The Mainland Has Its Own Promotion

He had only been back for a few days when her period finally made its tactful departure. Both of them were growing impatient. ... "Want to wash up?" "I'm too lazy to move. Forget it." "Oh, come on, that's dirty. Let me wipe you down." She got out of bed. Two basins of hot water had already been set out on the floor. Wringing out a towel, she wiped him down thoroughly from head to toe, like a kindhearted nurse tending to a bedridden, solitary elderly person. Afterward, she washed up herself before climbing back into bed and burrowing into his arms. Whenever moments like this came, it was when she felt happiest—embracing the one she loved on a big bed, heedless of the wind and rain outside, wrapped in the quiet beauty of growing old together. "Hey..." Resting her head on his shoulder, she suddenly said, "Director Wang mentioned that copies of *Mama, Love Me Once More* are selling wonderfully. The regional film companies are thrilled. It seems the market this year is extraordinarily good, even more booming than last year." "With more commercial films, naturally it's booming. And we're the ones who kicked off that trend." From the late 1970s to the mid-1980s was the golden age of the domestic market; after that, it began its decline. "Did she say when it's hitting theaters?" Chen Qi asked. "Not specifically, but sometime in the second quarter, anyway." "Then the earlier, the better. In May, with the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers coming up, we need to whip up excitement and build your momentum. Even if you don't take home the award, everyone has to know you're the uncrowned champion." "You're exaggerating! An uncrowned champion? The mainland isn't like Hong Kong—can you actually spend money on promotion?" Having seen more of the world now, Gong Xue understood a bit about how these things worked. "Each place has its own playbook. Tomorrow I'll talk it over with Director Wang... I promised I'd make you the biggest star in China, and I keep my word!" In actual history, Gong Xue had only filmed twelve movies and three television dramas. By this point in that timeline, she had already done six productions, starring as the female lead in three. In this life, she had done five: *Sacrificial Red*, *Romance on Mount Lu*, *Tai Chi*, *Tai Chi 2*, and *Mama, Love Me Once More*—roughly the same in number. Yet her influence blew the original timeline out of the water! In this era, production cycles were long; for a film actor, releasing two films a year was already considered highly prolific. The year before last she had *Romance on Mount Lu*, last year *Tai Chi*, and this year a major tearjerker—dominating the charts year after year, then venturing overseas to contend for awards. Her footing was rock-solid. Gong Xue propped herself up, the tenderness in her eyes seemingly spilling over. She murmured softly, "Saying this might sound a bit hypocritical, but it's what's truly in my heart. Being with you isn't for... isn't for..." "I know!" Chen Qi pinched her cheek with a smile. "Life needs a material foundation. We're both film workers, and the best material foundation is success and fame—frosting on the cake. Why not enjoy both? Besides, if I don't give the roles to you, who would I give them to? Am I supposed to back some other woman to win three consecutive Hundred Flowers Awards?" "I'm just afraid that one day, you, you..." "Tsk! Am I really that despicable in your eyes?" "..." Gong Xue pursed her lips, thinking to herself, *Who knows? Who knows what you're up to in Hong Kong?* At the thought, she wanted all the more to go work in Hong Kong alongside him. While she was daydreaming, she felt the man beneath her stirring again. He patted her shoulder, and she obediently slid downward, already quite practiced at it. *Hiss!* Chen Qi stroked her hair with one hand and clasped her hand with the other, their fingers intertwined, thoroughly enjoying himself. In matters between the sheets, she was almost completely pliant, and naturally, he spoiled her all the more. If you like them wild, don't fear being cuckolded; if you like them gorgeous, don't fear spending money; if you like them obedient, you've got to pamper them. ... Beijing Film Studio, small auditorium. The main creative team of *Mama, Love Me Once More* had assembled; Wang Haowei, Gong Xue, and Chen Qi were all present. Today, they had invited an audience for an advance screening. Different films appealed to different audiences; just as they had invited representatives from the United Front Work Department for *Romance on Mount Lu*, this time they invited comrades from the Women's Federation and cadres from the education system. Most of them were women of mature years. Without wasting words, the screening began. The original version of *Mama, Love Me Once More* possessed little intellectual depth and was paper-thin, padding its runtime with crying scenes and steeped in feudal ignorance. In Chen Qi's adaptation, the biggest departure was setting the story before the liberation. Feudal elements were transformed into a critique of feudalism; the ignorant woman became an oppressed, pitiful victim. In the end, it was elevated even further: the son returned after studying in the United States, determined to help build the motherland, and reunited with his birth mother. Bathed in the sunshine of the new era, mother and child were brought back together, stacking every possible thematic bonus. The ninety-minute film flew by in the blink of an eye. Sobbing echoed throughout the small auditorium, some suppressed, others uncontrollable, growing louder and louder. For female comrades, a film like this hit with the force of an atomic bomb. "..." Watching the finished cut for the first time, Gong Xue's eyes were red as well. Just as she was about to pull out a handkerchief, an older sister in the front row suddenly turned around, rose to her feet, walked straight over, and grasped her hands tightly. "Oh, my poor child, what suffering you've been through!" "Why didn't you come report this to our Women's Federation? We would have stood up for you!" "Uh, I wanted to find the Women's Federation, but I didn't know where to look..." Gong Xue's melancholy evaporated in an instant. She pressed her lips together and played along, only for another older sister to rush over, weeping and wiping away tears. "It must have been so hard on you! I'm a mother myself, and it made me think of when I was raising my own kids... Waaaah..." "Please don't be sad. Times are better now." For a while, Gong Xue barely had time to feel anything herself, busy consoling everyone else. After a long while, once their emotions had settled, the women patted their chests and promised readily, "Your film is simply wonderful! What a magnificent educational theme, championing maternal love! Don't you worry, leave it to us!" "This is an unvarnished critique of the oppression and torment women suffered in the old society. Every female comrade ought to come see it!" The Women's Federation and the education system were two massive networks. This was only the Beijing area, but the audience they could mobilize was substantial. Wang Haowei chuckled quietly to herself: making Xiao Chen's productions was wonderful—comprehensive support from start to finish, with nothing to worry about. He even took care of promotion! After seeing the guests off, Chen Qi asked, "Director Wang, can you get in touch with the manager of the Beijing Film Company?" "I know him. What are you planning now?" "Could you please pass along word? As long as it can premiere in Beijing this April with sufficient promotional push, Sister Xue is willing to tour ten cinemas to meet audiences face-to-face. And you as well, of course, if you're willing." "This... you can do that?" "I have no problem with it, I'd love to meet the audience. Xiao Gong, is this what you want?" Wang Haowei looked at Gong Xue quizzically. Gong Xue flushed. "I'll do whatever he says." *Tsk!* Wang Haowei rolled her eyes. "All right, I'll talk to him. We've never done anything like this before, so I can't guarantee it'll work." "It'll definitely work. The film company isn't stupid. Who'd turn down such a golden opportunity?"