"This exercise routine of yours really is something. At first I broke into a sweat and was gasping for breath, but now that I'm getting used to it, it truly feels refreshing."
Under the bright morning sun, Chen Qi and Liang Xiaosheng came downstairs in high spirits after finishing their secret practice session in the guesthouse room. Liang Xiaosheng was eleven years older than him, yet there was no generational gap between them at all. Being unmarried and having plenty of free time on his hands, he dropped by whenever he had nothing better to do.
"Perseverance is key. If you keep at it for half a year or a year, it will truly loosen your muscles, strengthen your bones, dispel illness, and fortify your health."
Chen Qi chuckled. He had been staying here for several days now, slacking off while pretending to revise his manuscript and occasionally dropping by to consult the senior editors, putting on the act of an earnest, humble, and hardworking young fellow.
Because the Beijing Film Studio had many production crews and plenty of single young folks, the cafeteria served three meals a day, which was quite a perk.
The two reached the cafeteria and lined up for food. Chen Qi ordered three liang of steamed buns and a bowl of stewed liver, while Liang Xiaosheng hesitated for a moment and asked only for a single youtiao.
"Why eating so little?"
"Not very hungry today. Just making do with a bite."
"..."
Chen Qi glanced at him without a word and found a table to sit down. Liang Xiaosheng asked, "How are the script revisions coming along? Running into any trouble?"
"It's going all right. I'm getting into a better groove. The teachers have all been very patient. I plan to go ask for their advice again in a bit."
"Then look for Director Jiang. Teacher Shi didn't come in today."
"What happened to her?"
"It's that son of hers again..."
Liang Xiaosheng paused, as if feeling it was improper to gossip behind someone's back. Chen Qi naturally wasn't about to let it drop, nudging him on. "Who doesn't get talked about behind their back, and who doesn't talk about others? I swear I'll keep it to myself."
"Teacher Shi has a son who's twenty-two this year and still doesn't have a job. The old couple is worried sick."
"Was he an educated youth too?"
"Pretty much. He was sent down to Changping to raise pigs. I met him once. Unremarkable looks, timid, speaks in a soft, gentle whisper. After returning to the city, he wanted to take the college entrance exams but failed, then tried auditioning for modern drama troupes and the like, but failed those too.
"The old couple has been asking around everywhere calling in favors, and they went out again today to see what they could drum up."
"Isn't her husband Ge Cunzhuang? With the old gentleman's connections, could he really not find a job?"
"Connections are the cheapest thing in the world at the Beijing Film Studio. After being here a few years, I've seen right through it. Anyone in the capital with a recognizable name has connections that reach the heavens. Leave them aside—take you, for example. Your parents have such wonderful jobs; I couldn't be more envious even if I tried."
Liang Xiaosheng sighed with deep feeling.
Ge Cunzhuang was quite famous, but his seniority in the literary and art circles wasn't top-tier. Take Chen Qiang, also of the Beijing Film Studio, for instance. Chen Qiang was one of New China's 'Twenty-Two Movie Stars' selected by the state, belonging to the absolute pinnacle.
Back then, Chen Peisi had also been sent down to the countryside, starved until he hardly looked human. Wanting to return to the city, Chen Qiang swallowed his pride and went to plead with Tian Hua. Tian Hua had played Xi'er in *The White-Haired Girl*, while Chen Qiang had played Huang Shiren.
Tian Hua helped him approach the August First Film Studio. The August First Studio looked over Chen Peisi's file and said they happened to be short on actors to play local thugs and scoundrels, so if he was willing to come, he could join.
Only then was that fellow who only comes around once in a few thousand years able to enter the August First Film Studio.
Ge You was in a similar boat. His personal qualifications were unremarkable, his family background wasn't top-tier, and for now he remained a youth awaiting employment.
"Teacher Liang!"
As they were chatting, a call suddenly rang out. Liang Xiaosheng looked up. "Xiao Liu, what are you doing here? Got another role?"
"Nope, just here to freeload some food and drink! Oh, by the way, I moved into the guesthouse today too!"
A remarkably spirited face with bold eyebrows and large eyes leaned in beside Chen Qi, cheeks flushed like fresh apples; one look showed she had abundant qi and blood and regular periods. She beamed, "And who is this comrade?"
Liang Xiaosheng hurriedly introduced them.
"Oh, so you're Chen Qi! I heard a nineteen-year-old prodigy came to the studio. Turns out it's you!"
"Hello, I'm Liu Xiaoqing!"
She offered her hand first. Chen Qi blinked and shook it. "Hello, hello! I've long heard your illustrious name!"
"My illustrious name?"
"I'm afraid there aren't many people nowadays who haven't seen your movies."
"Haha, you really know how to talk! I'm going to grab my food first!"
She burst into hearty laughter. Even her attire was unconventional—she wore a pair of old leather shoes barefoot, with the heels crushed down, shuffling along. Yet the moment she appeared in the cafeteria, she seemed born to be the center of attention, drawing every eye in the room.
However, most of those gazes held hints of scrutiny, amusement, and watching a spectacle.
Indeed, this was none other than the eternal maiden, the legend among legends who would still be playing young maidens at seventy—Granny Liu!
"She's so uninhibited. Not like the others at all."
"Take my advice: keep your distance from her!"
"Why?"
Liang Xiaosheng hesitated, then lowered his voice to a cautious, barely audible whisper: "Well... she has some issues with her personal conduct."
*Oh!*
Chen Qi's eyes lit up. *If you're talking about that, I'm wide awake!*
He pressed Liang Xiaosheng for details, but Liang Xiaosheng still had some principles and refused to spill any particulars no matter what.
In truth, Chen Qi's impression of Liu Xiaoqing was fairly thin—nothing more than an affair with Jiang Wen, tax evasion, and a penchant for playing young maidens. But he also knew that this woman was easily the fiercest female star in the country.
People thought Zhang Ziyi was ruthless?
Compared to Liu Xiaoqing, that was small potatoes.
After staying at the Beijing Film Studio for a few days and seeing plenty of celebrities big and small, Chen Qi had grown accustomed to it. Having eaten until he was half full, he pushed the two leftover steamed buns forward. "I can't finish these. If you don't mind, Teacher Liang, help me polish them off."
"No, no, I'm full too!"
Liang Xiaosheng waved his hands hurriedly.
"Just eat them, otherwise they'll go to waste. We can't waste food!"
"Look at you, couldn't even finish two liang of buns. I've seen folks your age put away a whole jin in one sitting..."
Liang Xiaosheng didn't refuse any further, reaching out with his chopsticks to pick one up and pop it into his mouth.
Naturally, he wasn't full. How could a single youtiao fill anyone up?
It was just that his family was strapped for cash.
***
Back at the guesthouse.
Chen Qi went on pretending to revise his manuscript, gluing strips of paper onto the draft.
Many people at the Beijing Film Studio had already heard of him. First was his youth—only nineteen years old—and second was the love story. The combination of the two was enough to make anyone marvel. Everyone was waiting to see what this screenplay would ultimately turn into.
With a daily living allowance of two yuan, he had already pocketed ten yuan for free, with nowhere to spend it.
He was well aware of Liang Xiaosheng's financial straits; the man must have sent his wages back home again. Chen Qi wanted to help out, but feared wounding his pride, and bringing up money directly might not be accepted either. It seemed he would have to order four liang of buns from now on.
Liang Xiaosheng was the editor assigned specifically to him, so he didn't have much else to do. Shortly after breakfast, he came over again, and the two sat down to play chess together.
Right in the middle of a game, a knock sounded at the door: "Is Xiao Chen in?"
"Liu Xiaoqing?"
Startled, Chen Qi walked over and opened the door. Sure enough, it was her. She smiled. "Oh, Teacher Liang is here too. That works out great. May I come in?"
"Oh, please come in!"
She walked in with total ease, glanced around, and casually sat down on the edge of the bed as if she owned the place.
Liang Xiaosheng gave a shudder. He didn't even dare shut the door; in fact, he deliberately left it wide open. In these times, when men and women chatted in a room—especially when it was just a man and a woman alone—they always kept the door open, much like a legitimate massage parlor in later years.
Moral conduct was a serious matter!
"I heard you wrote a love story. I'm terribly curious. Could you tell me about it?"
"Are you hoping to play the role?"
"Yes. As long as the script is good, I don't want to pass up any opportunity." She made no attempt to hide her intentions.
"Then I'm afraid I have to apologize..."
Chen Qi held neither fondness nor malice toward her, feeling completely neutral. He said candidly, "The female lead is written as a girl around twenty, experiencing first love, who grew up in the United States. Your age and image aren't quite the right fit."
"I see. What a shame. Still, I'd love to hear your story. You..."
Before Liu Xiaoqing could finish her sentence, her expression suddenly changed.
From the hallway outside came the sound of hurried footsteps, accompanied by a man's shouting: "Xiaoqing? Xiaoqing?"
Chapter 17