Chapter 178: Special Talent Wei Jiefang (Guaranteed Second Update)

"Oh, I'm from the Director's Advanced Training Class," said Li Baotian, who looked like a little old man, to Wu Tianming.

The precise name is the Director Cadre Advanced Training Class; at this time, Li Baotian was already deputy director of his hometown's cultural troupe.

Wu Tianming was disappointed—such a distinctive-looking man was a director, but who said directors couldn't act?

"Are you interested in acting?" Wu Tianming asked again; though the fellow was unremarkable in appearance, Old Wu sensed a powerful vitality emanating from him.

"Actually, I used to act," Li Baotian said, then asked, "What do you do?"

Wu Tianming introduced himself, and Li Baotian turned to Wei Ming: "So you're Wei Ming, the novelist?"

"Yes, that's me."

"Pleased to meet you—I've read all your novels. So which film are you casting for?"

"Er Niu."

"So you're casting for the role of Niu Er," Li Baotian thought for a moment, "I think I can give it a try."

Wu Tianming gave him the address of the Beiyingchang guesthouse and told him to come within three days—they'd need to see him again.

Later, with help from a Central Drama College teacher, they found a young man from the northeast named Du Yuan; he wasn't good-looking either, not even Jia Ling liked him.

They met with several female actresses too, since they had to prepare for the possibility that Liu Xiaoqing would refuse—she was currently very popular, with one film offer after another; in Wei Ming's memory, she'd also be filming a famous movie this year called *Yuan Ye*.

But the Class of 1980 hadn't enrolled yet, and none of the Class of 1978 female students had caught Wu's eye.

According to the Central Drama College teachers, the Class of 1980 would take their entrance exams next month, after which students including Jiang Wen, Lü Liping, and Yue Hong would step into the spotlight.

After leaving Central Drama College, the two had a meal at a state-run restaurant in the alley; Wei Ming surveyed the surrounding sihe courtyards, thinking it would be convenient to buy one for casting.

After dinner, they went to the Film Academy.

Wei Ming had connections there—A Long and A Mou were both insiders; they personally took them to the Class of 1978 Acting Department.

On the way, Wu Tianming kept glancing at Zhang Yimou.

"What, you want him to play Niu Er?" Wei Ming asked with a smile.

Wu Tianming shook his head: "This kid looks too Shaanxi."

Wei Ming laughed harder: "Classic Terracotta Warrior face. Old Zhang's cinematography skills are top-notch—he always gets top marks in class. Let him show you his work later."

Zhang Yimou had been waiting for that exact phrase—he looked gratefully at Wei Ming.

Though he was only a sophomore, he needed to plan ahead; he didn't have the background of Zhuang Zhuang or Kai Ge—if he couldn't stay in Yanjing, returning to Xi'an was his best option.

Wei Ming asked Wu Tianming: "When do you plan to start shooting?"

If it happened to be during summer vacation, Zhang Yimou could intern on set—he'd gladly do it even without pay.

Wu Tianming: "Besides actors, what worries us most right now is the cow."

"What's wrong with the cow?"

Wu Tianming: "Actually, the cow is the real female lead—it has a lot of scenes, many requiring spiritual expression. In film, animals and children consume the most film stock. We haven't found a particularly obedient cow yet, so we're considering raising one from a young age."

This was indeed a problem; in the original version, computer effects could be used, but now, shooting realistic animal scenes wasn't easy.

Wei Ming said: "If you raise a cow from birth until it gives birth and produces milk, it'll take at least two years."

"Exactly, so we're still unsure when we can start shooting. I really want to begin this year."

Wei Ming suddenly thought of a possibility, but they had arrived at the acting class classroom—he'd mention it later.

"They're here! They're here!"

Xie Yuan stood at the door; seeing them arrive, he shouted inside, and the students immediately resumed rehearsing lines or practicing scenes with each other, appearing intensely diligent.

They knew today a film crew was coming to cast actors—and it was for the movie adaptation of Wei Ming's novel *Er Niu*, directed by Wu Tianming, who had the acclaimed work *The Quiver of Life*—a truly excellent opportunity.

When Wei Ming entered, Fang Shu and Liu Jia, who had met him once before, exchanged glances—they felt he looked familiar, as if they'd seen him on campus.

Among students, the Class of 1978 from Beijing Film Academy was far more famous than the Class of 1978 from Central Drama College, but they all looked too conventional; only Xie Yuan had a comical appearance.

Wu Tianming immediately spotted Zhou Lijing in the crowd—this young man perfectly matched the era's ideal of masculinity: rugged and resolute, but his image didn't suit the role of Niu Er.

The young man named Zhang Fengyi, however, was rugged and simple-minded, though lacking in humor—he could be a backup candidate. He'd already played the male lead in a film, a Hong Kong Phoenix production; such experience was a plus.

Wu Tianming's gaze lingered on Zhang Tielin's expectant face—too pretty, passed.

Wu Tianming conversed with these students, mainly gauging their understanding of rural life.

If they were all Chengliren, he'd have to spend time having them experience rural life—Niu Er was an extremely typical, extreme rural bachelor.

In the end, the male lead candidates were Li Shujian, Li Baotian, Du Yuan, and Zhang Fengyi—and only Li Shujian was someone they hadn't met before.

But after Wu Tianming returned to Beiyingchang, Li Shujian was already waiting outside Wu's office door.

When Wu Tianming saw him in person, he felt no terrifying aura at all—he wasn't tall, not a typical Shandong giant, and looked mild-mannered and harmless.

Wei Ming told Old Wu to go ahead and audition; it was nearly quitting time, and he needed to visit Director Wang. On the way to see Director Wang, Wei Ming saw Chen Qiang again.

"Little Wei, wait a moment—I've contacted Liu Xiaoqing."

"Oh, what did she say?"

Chen Qiang smiled: "She asked if you personally invited her. I said yes. She said she must honor your face, but she has another major film commitment in August, so she won't have much time for *Er Niu*, and no time for separate rural immersion. She's currently filming in Sichuan-Chongqing and will sneak away to experience rural life."

Miss Liu really knew how to handle people. Wei Ming nodded: "I'll tell Wu Director—he's the director, he'll decide. Thank you, Teacher Chen."

Later, Wei Ming met Director Wang Yang and discussed *Heroes Born in Youth*.

Wang Yang smiled happily: "Xia Meng called me back—she's interested and plans to come to Beiyingchang in person to talk."

If she was willing to fly to Yanjing, the project was already half-solved. Wei Ming sighed with relief.

He now took this co-production seriously—he hoped that when it screened in Hong Kong, he, as the original author and screenwriter, could go there to speak face-to-face with his grandfather.

As they left the office building and passed the guesthouse, Wu Tianming and Li Shujian had already come downstairs.

!

Wu Tianming told Wei Ming: "Little Li is leaving—he insisted on waiting for you to come out and say goodbye."

Wei Ming shook hands with Li Shujian and exchanged some mutual admiration.

After he left, Wei Ming asked Old Wu: "How did the audition feel?"

"I didn't audition—just had a casual chat. Next, I plan to borrow a makeup artist from a sister unit to dress them in farmer attire and see how they look. Will you come?"

Wei Ming thought for a moment and shook his head: "I've been taking too many days off lately—I feel guilty. I'll skip it."

Even if he didn't take leave, he often did his own things at his desk—but it was still better than being completely absent.

Wu Tianming looked disappointed, but Wei Ming added: "I might be able to help with the cow."

"How?" Wu Tianming perked up.

Wei Ming: "Simple—find an excellent animal trainer."

"Animal trainer? Do you know someone like that?"

Wei Ming smiled faintly: "I do. I'll write you an address—go visit him yourself."

When Wu Tianming saw the address Wei Ming had written, he rubbed his bald head: "Isn't this your hometown?"

Wu Tianming had read Wei Ming's essays and remembered the name "Gouzi Tun" vividly.

Recently, newspapers had reported that Wei Ming had sent books to readers, stamped with his personal seal: "Gouzi Wei Ming."

Wei Ming chuckled: "That's right—my hometown is right there. The person you're looking for is named Wei Jiefang."

"Your father?"

"Yes, my dad."

Old Wei had a real talent for training animals—for example, the slender hounds he borrowed for the New Year were as obedient as those he'd raised himself, and even Wei Ming's younger brother, Wei Gangdan, was instantly won over after just one meeting.

Since the role involved animal actors, Wei Ming thought his father might help—at least, the village donkeys and cows would obey Old Wei's commands: sit, stand, whatever he said.

After hearing Wei Ming's stories about his father, Director Wu Tianming was awestruck—he gripped Wei Ming's hand: "Your father is exactly the talent we need! We must get him on our team!"

"It depends on his schedule—he's currently the principal of our village elementary school, fully devoted to children's education."

Old Wu said: "Why don't you go back with me and persuade him yourself?"

Wei Ming: "I don't have time—no way."

If he truly had time, he'd rather go to Shanghai to watch Xi Zi's filming and catch a glimpse of Xue Jie.

Gong Yu hadn't expected that upon returning to Shanghai and starting filming at Shangyingchang, he'd receive a package from Wei Ming—and it had been seen by Xiao Yan and Xi Zi.

They even urged him to open it.

Gong Yu had no choice but to open it publicly—luckily, there was nothing too outrageous inside, just a set of sketches and a pack of pastries.

He still remembered his mother's workplace—he was asking her to help submit the work.

Xue Jie would certainly help, but his mother had little influence at her unit—would she be able to help?

After filming ended that day, Gong Yu returned home with Xi Zi and the manuscript, as instructed by Director Xie—to deepen their mother-son bond.

Lü Xiaoyan smiled wistfully as she waved goodbye to them.

…

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(End of Chapter)