"Beijing Film Studio's martial arts film Tai Chi has taken Hong Kong by storm, raking in a staggering seventeen million Hong Kong dollars at the box office and claiming the all-time number one spot in Hong Kong cinematic history!
"Not long ago, the principal cast and crew traveled to Hong Kong for promotional tours and were met with an ecstatic welcome from the public. Flowers and applause followed everywhere they went, and moved fans wept with passion... This is a historic moment, a milestone work!
"The male lead of Tai Chi is played by Li Lianjie, multi-time national martial arts champion, while the female lead is the well-known Gong Xue. The screenwriter is none other than Chen Qi, the writer behind Romance on Mount Lu.
"Reportedly, Chen Qi's earlier work Wrong Turn was released last year, taking in four million at the box office. That film deeply exposed the atrocities committed by Japanese invaders in Hong Kong. Unfortunately, its content was deemed too daring, so mainland audiences were unable to see it.
"His other work, The Descent, is currently in intense production by Great Wall, though it likewise cannot be shown in the mainland.
"As a twenty-one-year-old screenwriter, Chen Qi has achieved immense acclaim in the mainland while pulling in an astonishing twenty-one million at the Hong Kong box office across two films. He is without doubt an outstanding figure among the younger generation, and his achievements warrant deep reflection by all of us in the film industry..."
"While Tai Chi premiered first in Hong Kong, there is still no reliable news about a mainland release. When reporters inquired with China Film, the company declined to be interviewed..."
So far, the coverage had remained relatively standard. But below that, it began naming names.
"In mid-February, Return of the Swallows and Tai Chi traveled to West Berlin... Return of the Swallows suffered an unfortunate defeat, while Tai Chi shone brilliantly, leaving foreigners thoroughly captivated by Chinese kung fu!"
After another wave of lavish praise, the article took a sharp turn:
"Accompanying them on this trip was Fang Yurong of China Film (name changed, as readers will understand). She possesses extensive overseas experience and serves as a film scout for the Berlin International Film Festival.
"Comrade Fang Yurong threw her full weight behind Return of the Swallows to compete, actively participating in various events in Berlin with admirable personal dedication!"
Accompanying the text were various photographs of her in Berlin: embracing festival director Hadeln, huddling with jury members, and sharing laughs and drinks with foreign directors and actors, her face beaming with radiant smiles...
Yu Jiajia had not mentioned anything about earning foreign exchange. If she burned through all the news at once, what would be left to report later?
Still, this was already more than enough.
In 1981, the winds blowing in from abroad were growing stronger by the day. Many people's perspectives were quietly shifting, and an infatuation with foreign novelties was taking root. Cassette tapes from Hong Kong and Taiwanese singers trickled in through every conceivable channel, sparking a wave of pop music enlightenment.
Given its unique geographic position, Hong Kong commanded immense attention. In the eyes of most mainlanders, it was an ultra-developed capitalist metropolis where even the toilet bowls were rimmed with gold.
Words like "Mainland Film," "Conquering Hong Kong," and "Seventeen Million Hong Kong Dollars" easily set countless hearts racing. Above all, when people saw that Tai Chi was screening in Hong Kong but not in the mainland, indignation flared. Why should they get to see it and not us?
"Xiao Huang! Xiao Huang!"
Clad in a thick padded cotton coat, Auntie Wang hurried toward the tea stall with the frenzied vigor of an old woman rushing to snag discounted eggs. The moment she arrived, she asked, "Has someone been investigating Xiao Chen these past couple of days?"
"Yeah. Did they question you too?"
"I looked into it! When it's like this, it's definitely a departmental investigation!"
Auntie Wang felt a surge of youthful fire, ready to prove that women hold up half the sky. She declared loudly, "Xiao Chen is one of ours! His work relationship is still officially here with us. He just earned twenty-one million in Hong Kong, bringing glory to all our faces! I was still counting on having him come back to give a report to the neighborhood. We can't let him get pushed around!"
"Then what do you want to do?"
"We might not understand the ins and outs of the movie business, but we can go straight to the government leaders. You boys draft a joint petition, and our neighborhood committee will submit it up the chain. Praise him to the skies—praise him till your ink runs dry! We'll vouch that he's clean!"
"You got it! We'll write it right away!"
Moved by brotherhood, Huang Zhanying agreed without hesitation.
***
"Damn it!"
At China Film, Song Linming slapped the copy of China Youth Daily onto his desk, his face turning pale with rage.
He had been racing against the clock to put a definitive label on the case and seize control of the business. Who could have imagined the newspapers would run with it? Once public opinion reached a fever pitch and everyone started clamoring to see Tai Chi, China Film would be backed into a corner.
Even more infuriating was what followed. He slammed the desk with a loud smack and pointed an accusing finger at Fang Yurong. "What's the deal with these photos?"
"Those were all printed in the Berlin newspapers! It was our country's first time competing, so they paid a huge amount of attention. Reporters followed me every single day... How... how did those pictures end up inside the country?"
"You're as stupid as a pig! Is that what I'm asking you? If you were attending official events, fine, but why on earth were you hugging and cuddling people? Look at this one—that foreigner's mouth is practically glued to your cheek!"
"He was French... The French are naturally romantic and enthusiastic. That's just how they are. I was only doing as the locals do; otherwise, how could I deal with Westerners...?" Fang Yurong murmured in a meek voice.
Song Linming suddenly felt an overwhelming wave of exhaustion.
What kind of subordinates did he have?
That kid named Chen might be obnoxious, but speaking objectively, he truly possessed real talent.
"Forget it. Come with me to the Ministry of Culture immediately. We cannot let them turn the tables!"
***
"Chen Qi, you're free to go!"
At the special guesthouse, Xiao Mo unlocked the door.
"You mean I'm in the clear?"
"The investigation is complete. You're fine."
"Thank the organization for clearing my name... Say, let me ask one thing. If I report that someone else is under similar suspicion, would you have to investigate them too?"
"Of course!"
"Oh, good to know."
Chen Qi nodded and headed downstairs, accompanied by Xiao Mo.
When they reached the ground floor, Chen Qi said, "Comrade, may I ask your name?"
"State secret!"
"Haha. You and I seem about the same age, and I enjoyed chatting with you. Hope we can meet again down the road—under normal circumstances, I mean."
Chen Qi waved goodbye and ran toward Wang Yang, who had come in person to pick him up, like a grandson running to his grandfather.
"Old Director, sorry for the trouble. You must have cashed in a lot of favors, didn't you?"
"Bah! Favors are meant to be used. At my age, they'll just go to waste once I'm dead."
Wang Yang did not dwell on the tribulations of the past couple of days, saying only, "Fu Chi arrived and met with Liao Gong. That bunch from China Film went to kick up a fuss again, and the Ministry of Culture had no choice but to call a meeting. Just our luck you're out in time. Do you want to rest first, or head straight over?"
"No need to rest. I was suffocating in there. Let's go!"
***
Ministry of Culture, large conference room.
By the time Chen Qi arrived, many people had already taken their seats. The leaders of the supervisory department were present, and the atmosphere was heavy with solemnity. Song Linming and Fang Yurong were naturally there as well, watching as he walked through the door.
*He actually managed to get out? What dumb luck!* Fang Yurong thought with an inward sneer.
The two of them sat down. The tables were arranged in a circle, with the senior leadership at the head and them seated below, flanked by attendees on either side. It felt like an ancient courtroom tribunal, and they were the ones standing trial.
"Old Wang!"
A leading official spoke up. "Regarding the ins and outs of this matter, each of you tells a different story. Without outside evidence, I cannot easily take either side's word for it. But you yourselves have admitted that you did indeed sell the film. There's no dispute on that, is there?"
"No dispute. But I ask that you analyze the concrete situation in its proper context. Under the circumstances at the time, that was our only viable course of action. If accountability is to be assigned, you would do better to question Comrade Fang Yurong over there. It was her utter indifference toward Tai Chi that led to this entire chain of events."
"Don't make excuses! I'm only one person—could I split myself in two?" Fang Yurong countered defensively. "Return of the Swallows was the official competition entry, so naturally my attention had to be focused there!"
"Isn't what you just said an excuse too? You're allowed to make excuses, but we aren't?"
Chapter 168