Taming the Hawk

Shichahai Sports School. In a corner of the training grounds, Zhen Zidan sat alone, his head lowered as he read a letter his mother had mailed from the United States. His family hailed from Guangdong and had emigrated in the 1970s. His father was now a newspaper editor, while his mother had practiced martial arts since childhood, trained in both Bagua and Tai Chi, and established a small martial arts group in America to teach Chinese and foreign students alike. The letter mentioned news his parents had heard from Hong Kong: *Tai Chi* had become a massive hit, and there was talk of a US release. When the time came, she planned to take her disciples and friends to watch it. She urged her son to train diligently in martial arts and strive for a chance to act in movies too, among other things. Zhen Zidan smiled wryly. Of course he wanted to be in movies; he was practically green with envy over Li Lianjie. But where would such an opportunity come from? He didn't even have a single friend on the martial arts team. In his youth, his emotional intelligence was rock bottom, and he was completely oblivious to it. Only much later did he slowly improve. "Zhen Zidan!" He quietly folded the letter and tucked it away. Just as he was getting ready to resume practice, a senior teammate shouted, "Someone outside is looking for you!" "Oh!" He trotted out to look, and delight instantly flared within him. The visitor was none other than Director Li Wenhua, who had picked the cast back then. Though his social graces were lacking, Zhen Zidan at least knew how to show respect in front of his elders and superiors. He hurriedly said, "Hello, Director Li!" "Right. We're working on a new film and stopped by to look at actors. Are you interested in making movies?" "I am, Director! I hope you can give me a shot!" Li Wenhua frowned slightly. His Mandarin was truly rough around the edges. Fortunately, they could dub his voice. He asked, "How old are you this year?" "Eighteen!" "Oh? The same age as Li Lianjie?" "Yes!" "Can you demonstrate a fist form for me?" Without another word, Zhen Zidan launched into a brisk, crisp boxing routine. His official height was listed as 173 centimeters, though in reality he was probably a bit shorter. His hair was parted down the middle, and he was fairly handsome, yet an icy edge always lingered between his brows. One look gave the impression of someone fierce, ruthless, and tough. Li Wenhua formed an assessment in his mind and nodded. "That'll do. Wait for word from us!" "Director, may I ask what film it is?" "*Tai Chi 2*!" *Hiss!* Zhen Zidan sucked in a sharp breath and hurriedly asked, "Then what role will I play?" "It hasn't been decided yet. Just wait for the notice." Seeing Li Wenhua turn to leave, Zhen Zidan stood dumbfounded on the spot for a moment. Then he leaped three feet into the air and dashed eagerly into the training hall, only to grind to an awkward halt. He realized he didn't even have a friend with whom he could share the joyous news. *** Meanwhile, Li Wenhua had nearly walked out of the sports school when he heard footsteps pounding after him. "Director Li! Director Li, wait up!" "Xiao Li? Why are you chasing after me?" The person running up was none other than Li Lianjie, wearing a red tracksuit and a cap, as his hair had not yet fully grown back. Arriving before him, he panted, "I heard you were here and rushed over to see you. Why didn't you look for me?" "I wasn't here to see you. Now that my business is done, naturally I'm heading out." "Didn't you come for *Tai Chi 2*?" "Oh, I came to chat with Zhen Zidan. He might play a minor part. What about it?" "Then what about me? Didn't Brother Qi say the original cast would return?" "Your situation is a bit complicated. Xiao Chen's been so swamped lately that his feet barely touch the ground, and he hasn't had time to handle things here. You should wait for word as well..." "Wait, but I—I!" Li Wenhua ducked away as soon as he finished speaking, leaving Li Lianjie thoroughly miserable. What did he mean, wait for word? Was it not even certain he would be in *Tai Chi 2*? If he didn't star in it, who else could? Among the people from *The Shaolin Temple*, he was by far the most frustrated. He had been back for quite a while now, carrying this weight on his chest every day. He didn't dare mention it to his coach, and he still had to play the part of a well-behaved boy, training alongside the others. Come on! He had won five gold medals! He was wildly popular across mainland China and Hong Kong, yet they still made him train? The disparity was jarring! He had been waiting for Chen Qi to come discuss *Tai Chi 2*, but waiting had yielded nothing. Instead, Li Wenhua had brought ambiguous news, throwing him into an anxious panic. Li Lianjie walked over to the administrative office, squatted outside for a long time, and finally mustered the courage to knock on the door. "Xiao Li? Is something the matter?" "Uh, yes, there is something." "Sit down, sit down and talk! Come, have some water!" The leader of the martial arts team was surnamed Han, and he was extraordinarily warm toward his prized prodigy. "Well, since I finished shooting *The Shaolin Temple*, I heard that *Tai Chi 2* is going into production soon. I was thinking... I was thinking..." "Oh, you want to act in movies again? Sure, of course! Your *Tai Chi* was so well received in both regions and brought in foreign currency overseas. Frankly speaking, it brings immense honor to our martial arts team as well. The leaders at the Sports Commission specifically singled you out for praise, and you're definitely getting commended. If you want to shoot a movie, go right ahead. We'll support you fully." "Uh..." Li Lianjie rubbed his hands together. Having entered the state establishment at the age of eleven, his livelihood, daily needs, and personal honors were all tied up within the system. It was truly difficult to utter the words. After hesitating and stammering for half a day, he ventured, "What I mean is, I want to become a professional actor. I don't want to compete in tournaments anymore." His head sank alongside his words, not daring to meet the other man's gaze. Sure enough, Leader Han's smiling expression turned sour faster than a Sichuan face-changer. His face snapped into a stern scowl as he demanded sharply, "You want to leave the martial arts team?" "Yes!" "Explain yourself clearly. What on earth is going through your head?" Having been managed by these superiors since childhood, Li Lianjie answered almost on reflex, "I feel I've won enough gold medals and traveled abroad enough. I've earned all the honors I could possibly attain on the martial arts team. Continuing to stay would only mean endless repetition. I want to retire." "Retire? Go ask around! Has an eighteen-year-old national champion ever retired? If you retire, our martial arts team will become a nationwide laughingstock for failing to keep our own treasure!" Leader Han was both furious and anxious. "Xiao Li, isn't it the same if we support your film acting? Why do you insist on leaving?" "..." Li Lianjie fell silent. The truth was, he found remaining on the martial arts team meaningless; he wanted to step onto a bigger stage. Leader Han pleaded and reasoned repeatedly. Seeing him maintain stubborn silence throughout, the man slammed his palm against the desk in fury. "You are an athlete on the official state payroll! Your work relationship and legal status are tied right here! According to national regulations, you can only retire if you suffer an injury or reach an advanced age! Put any other ideas completely out of your head!" The martial arts team was subordinate to the Sports Commission. Athletes held official state quota posts. The binding power was immense. It was not a matter of leaving whenever one pleased; official government approval was required—one only needed to look at how hard it later was for Yao Ming to join the NBA to understand. Seeing the leader's fierce reaction, Li Lianjie swallowed hard. Frightened though he was, he braced himself and said, "Th-then I'll apply for a transfer to the Beijing Film Studio." "I won't approve it! And the Sports Commission won't approve it either! Don't try using anyone to pressure me. We belong to two completely separate systems, and that won't work here... Enough! Get out, and think this through properly. The martial arts team has never mistreated you!" Watching him scurry out dejectedly, Leader Han slammed his desk again in anger. In his eyes, the martial arts team had nurtured him, and leaving the moment he became famous amounted to sheer ingratitude. Furthermore, Li Lianjie was enormously popular right now. Whether shooting films, competing, or bringing in foreign currency, it all brought glory to the sports establishment! How could they ever let him go? Movies belonged to the cultural system, and the sports system couldn't care less about their rules. Did he really think he could straddle both culture and athletics on his own terms? *** That night, Li Lianjie didn't sleep a wink. Tossing and turning, Leader Han's words echoed relentlessly in his ears: *"Unless you suffer an injury or reach an advanced age..."* *An injury? Get injured?* For a brief, fleeting moment, such an impulse actually welled up inside him, but he quickly suppressed it in terror. Things hadn't come to that extreme just yet. After a sleepless night, he fabricated an excuse the next morning and slipped out, racing in desperate urgency to the Beijing Film Studio. Yet the person he sought was nowhere to be found. In the end, he intercepted Gong Xue and blurted out, "Sister Xue, where is Brother Qi?" "He went to Hangzhou!" "What did he go to Hangzhou for?" "To focus on his writing in retreat, and to attend the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Awards while he's at it. He should be back toward the end of the month... Oh, right, he mentioned that your situation is rather complicated, and told you to wait for news." Gong Xue strolled away at a leisurely pace. Li Lianjie was left completely bewildered and crestfallen. *Wait for news, wait for news... I'm driven to the point of wanting to injure myself, and you're still telling me to wait for news?!* Yet there was nothing he could do. Chen Qi had already established commanding prestige in his heart. If told to wait, he had no choice but to wait.