To Mount Lu

Born and bred in the capital, Beijing Film Studio carried far more face than other film studios. With just a little string-pulling, the General Political Department Drama Troupe agreed to release their actress. And so, the two pairs of actors—Fang Shu and Zhou Lijing, along with Gong Xue and Tang Guoqiang—officially moved into the guesthouse. This was, after all, the guesthouse's intended purpose: serving cast and crew, unlike a certain somebody freeloading there. Not long after, the wardrobe arrived from Hong Kong. In real history, *Romance on Mount Lu* provided Zhang Yu with forty-three outfits, giving her a brand-new look with every appearance. It had dazzled young men and women nationwide, sparking an immense craze. For preliminary preparations, however, they naturally couldn't buy that many. Fang Shu and Gong Xue received three outfits each. Morning. It was midsummer, and the sky brightened early. The head chef in Beijing Film Studio's cafeteria possessed top-notch culinary skill, capable of whipping up anything, even roast duck. With summer here, the cafeteria specifically offered sour plum soup and mung bean soup, one bowl per person. "There's a spot over here. Let's sit here!" "Mm." Fang Shu picked up her food and found a table by the window. Gong Xue smiled and nodded, letting her take the lead. Nobody quite knew what the administration had been thinking when they placed them in the same room. Four years apart in age, one was a bold Beijing girl and the other a delicate southern jade; sitting side by side, they were truly pleasing to the eye. "We'll be trying on the costumes in a bit. I heard they were all bought from Hong Kong. I can hardly wait." Fang Shu tugged at her short-sleeved shirt and frowned. "Look at what we usually wear—you could call it men's clothing or women's clothing. In all my years, I've never really worn proper women's fashion." "You look lovely in whatever you wear." "I know that, but so do you! I think you're really pretty too." "Thank you." "Could you not just pop out words a few at a time? Even though we're rivals, we can still be good friends!" Fang Shu didn't think much of her classmates, but she took quite a liking to Gong Xue. It was just that Gong Xue spoke softly and possessed such a gentle temperament, like a ball of cotton that left Fang Shu with nowhere to exert her energy. This girl had always been someone who dared to love and hate. Later in life, she would marry down to Tu Honggang, ten years her junior, and bear him a daughter, only to end up abandoned by that scumbag. "Aiyoh, truly pleasing to the eye! A feast for the senses!" On the other side of the cafeteria, Ge You gazed listlessly into the distance. Chen Qi gave him a swat. "Wipe that look off your face—it's getting creepy!" "I'm just looking. If you asked me to go talk to them, I wouldn't dare." Ge You glanced around and lowered his voice. "In all honesty, even though our studio has the Three Golden Flowers, mortals like us can't really appreciate their kind of beauty and elegance. These two female comrades are different. Just look at the others—they're acting worse than me." "What are you two chatting about so sneakily?" Just as they spoke, Tang Guoqiang walked over with his meal tray. Chen Qi remarked casually, "Talking about the costume fittings later. Female comrades get to wear gorgeous clothes, but you don't get any. It's quite unfair!" "Clothes are mere trifles, all superficial!" Tang Guoqiang puffed out his chest, declaring in his signature resonant voice, "A real man must stand tall and upright, steadfast beneath the heavens. There's no need to rely on external trappings." "'A real man born between heaven and earth—how can he languish long under the thumb of others?' ...Right?" Chen Qi quipped with a grin. "Hey, Xiao Chen, well said! You truly are a man of talent!" *Yes, yes, that was Lu Fengxian who said it. He also said he'd drifted half his life, lamenting only that he had not found an enlightened lord...* Sipping his mung bean soup, Tang Guoqiang shared what he had gathered: "I had a chat with Director Wang. She said once the roles are locked down, we'll set off for Mount Lu to experience the setting firsthand—shooting as we go. Once that wraps up, we'll return to the studio to build the interior sets. We have to capture the scenery; once winter hits, it won't work anymore." "Sounds like you're confident?" "I wouldn't dare boast, but speaking realistically, I do have quite a bit of experience." "Naturally. Who else could it be but you?" Chen Qi curled his lip slightly and glanced back at Zhou Lijing. The fellow sat eating alone, showing no inclination to chat or mingle with anyone. Zhou Lijing would become wildly popular in the 1980s. But then, in 1994, while he was away on a shoot, his wife was at home and hired a few migrant workers for renovations. Who could have foreseen that greed would drive them to murder her? Zhou Lijing fell into a deep depression for a long time, his mental health severely deteriorating. By the time he returned to acting, the scene had long since moved on. *** After breakfast, everyone gathered in the soundstage. In future generations, soundstages would be grandiose affairs packed with cutting-edge equipment as though money grew on trees, all sporting sleek, uniform exteriors. None of that existed now; Beijing Film Studio's soundstages were actually just clusters of red-brick workshop buildings. The windows were old-fashioned too, requiring hooks to prop them open. Wang Haowei and the others were already present. The makeup artist bustled around Gong Xue and Fang Shu, while Chen Qi wandered about, inspecting the outfits. One was a cinched-waist white suit; another was a puff-sleeved shirt with purple flowers on a white background paired with red flared pants; another was a sleeveless dress. Along with them came assorted jewelry, hairpins, high heels, and the like. *Are these the height of trendy Western fashion???* *Flared pants—talk about a hallmark of the era.* To others, they looked modern and stylish; to him, they looked retro. "All done!" "Time to change! Non-essential personnel clear out, take the initiative!" A simple dressing area had been cordoned off with black curtains, but the male comrades all filed outside regardless. When they returned a moment later, a collective "Whoa~" escaped their lips. Before them stood two youthful, radiant women, dressed in the puff-sleeved shirts and red flared trousers. "Zhou Lijing, Tang Guoqiang, stand over there! Let's take some photos!" The two pairs of actors lined up in their respective pairings as cameras clicked away. "..." Wang Haowei frowned, her eyes fixed on Fang Shu. Dressed plainly with two braided pigtails, Fang Shu still carried a pure, innocent air. But once heavy makeup and modern Western clothing were applied, she instantly transformed into a mature woman. Moreover, standing at 172 centimeters, she seemed all the more intimidating—or "aggressive," as Chen Qi's phrase suddenly popped into Wang Haowei's mind. Turning to Gong Xue, perhaps due to the makeup, she looked a little unnatural as well, but makeup could be adjusted. What mattered was the overall feel, and in this regard she surpassed Fang Shu. That charming, delicate sweetness was the hardest quality to find. "Next outfit!" "Next outfit again!" Once all three outfits had been tried, Wang Haowei had made up her mind. *** Next came meetings—endless, repetitive meetings—until the cast for *Romance on Mount Lu* was finally confirmed: Female lead: Gong Xue as Zhou Yun. Male lead: Tang Guoqiang as Geng Hua. Supporting actress: Zhang Jinling as Geng Ying, the male lead's elder sister. Zhang Jinling belonged to Beijing Film Studio. At twenty-eight, she was a year older than Tang Guoqiang. With her wholesome, mature look, she immediately struck one as a traditional, hardworking woman. Speaking of Beijing Film Studio's Three Golden Flowers—Liu Xiaoqing, Li Xiuming, and Zhang Jinling—they all had broad faces and strong, imposing presences. This was the exact opposite of Shanghai Film Studio, whose starlets, one after another, were delicate and graceful. With the cast decided, Gong Xue was sent to stay at the International Hotel for a week to immerse herself in the lifestyle. It had to be said that filmmaking in this era spared no expense. Then came more meetings, round after round of meetings. Just as Chen Qi felt like throwing up from them all, the production crew was finally ready to set out, rushing to capture the beauty of Mount Lu. They had no choice but to leave; filming had to wrap up before winter. The night before departure, back home. There was a blackout again today, and a candle flickered on the table. Having candles was considered good; rural households couldn't bear the expense, usually relying on homemade kerosene lamps. They would take a glass bottle, poke a hole in the lid, thread cotton string through, pour in kerosene, and make do with that for light. As Yu Xiuli packed his clothes, she grumbled, "You've barely been back in the city for any time, and now you're traveling far again. I hear Jiangxi is full of sent-down educated youth, and bride prices are high there. Don't go getting trapped down there!" "He's going with Beijing Film Studio. How could he get trapped?" "You never know. Who can tell which way the wind will blow?" *Blowing to the right, of course!* Chen Qi rolled his eyes and comforted his mother. "I'll definitely write to you both. This is a state assignment, and as the screenwriter, I have to accompany the crew. There's no way around it." "Take the cassette player with you," Chen Jianjun said. "When you miss us, listen to some Teresa Teng." "Your paternal love truly runs deep!" Chen Qi chuckled. A slight twinge of parting sorrow stirred in his heart—after all, real affection had grown between them. He said, "Dad, Mom, I've spent all year at Beijing Film Studio, and now I'm heading out on a long journey again. It's my fault I can't stay by your side." Aiyoh! That single sentence brought tears to both parents' eyes. For a moment, the room was filled with heartwarming familial warmth.