Chapter 193

On the first night living in the Overseas Chinese Apartments, Wei Ming first put those books and letters on the bookshelf, and then, lonely and unbearable, he decided to write a love story.

Otherwise, not writing for a long time would make his hands rusty; he still had to maintain his feel, and he could also earn some royalties.

Living here, the property fee was eight yuan a month. Once the telephone was connected, there would be a fixed expenditure of about 20 yuan a month. In addition, he had to support his family; he couldn't just sit and eat his savings.

Previously in the dormitory, he always sat cross-legged on the bed to create. Both his posture and the environment had some interference. This was the first time he felt the feeling of no interference and full state, so his state was excellent, and he finished more than four thousand words before going to bed.

If it weren't for involving some historical knowledge that made him slightly hesitant, he could have written faster. He still had to go to the library tomorrow to borrow two books to read.

Also, the desk was a bit lacking. He would see if he could buy a better one later.

The next day, Wei Ming rode his beloved little motorcycle to work and then changed to a bicycle when he reached the Nanmen. Riding a motorcycle on campus was a bit too ostentatious and also wasted fuel.

After work, Yang Hao glanced at Wei Ming, who was studying at his desk.

"Yo, studying Qin history again?"

"Just reading, just reading," Wei Ming asked with a smile, "Any special news recently?"

Yang Hao flipped through the newspapers and magazines at hand.

"Nothing much, just that *Nezha Conquers the Dragon King* has been shortlisted for the Cannes Film Festival in France, and Tang Guoqiang also represented *Little Flower* to participate."

The opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival was on the 13th. The news he read was a report before the Chinese film delegation set off. The head of the delegation was Wang Shuchen, the director of the two films *Nezha* and *Heavenly Book*. By now, the group should have arrived in France.

This time, *Nezha Conquers the Dragon King* was successfully shortlisted for the main competition unit. Regardless of whether it could win an award, this was exciting news for domestic animation and even Chinese-language films.

And as early as 16 years ago, the Shanghai Er Yingchang's ink-wash animation *Little Tadpoles Looking for Mother* had won an honorary award on the big stage of Cannes, amazing the world.

Wei Ming took the *China Youth* magazine. Besides seeing the news related to Cannes, he also saw an interesting title: "The Road of Life, Why Is It Getting Narrower..." signed by "Ordinary Female Worker Pan Xiao."

In his previous life, even in the countryside, he knew about this great discussion on "What is the meaning of life," and even wrote a letter to participate in the discussion himself.

From May to December, for more than half a year, with *China Youth* as the main front, confused young people across the country were discussing this issue. The problems encountered by "Pan Xiao" made many people feel empathetic and were very representative.

And a major reason why it could make people feel so empathetic, as if poking the pain points of all contemporary young people, was that "Pan Xiao" was not one person.

It was the editor who combined the experiences in the letters of two readers, Pan Yi and Huang Xiaoju, into one person, and perhaps added some artistic processing by the editor in the middle, thus making "Pan Xiao's" experience so resonant, thereby triggering a national discussion.

Gong Ruzheng at the General Political Drama Troupe was also holding the magazine and reading this article. This article had a great influence on many young actors in the troupe who couldn't play the lead roles.

The opening paragraph was written in a way that made people feel very suffocated: "Editor Comrade: I am 23 years old this year. It should be said that I have just walked toward life, but all the mysteries and attractions of life no longer exist for me. I seem to have reached its end..."

Next, "Pan Xiao" recounted her own experiences. Gong Ruzheng could see the shadow of her own past in many of these experiences.

In fact, before the age of 20, Gong Ruzheng was also as confused and even desperate as her, not knowing how to walk the road ahead, feeling that she was going to spend her whole life in the Jiangxi countryside.

Fortunately, she later became a literary soldier. Compared with the educated youth around her at the time, she was lucky. However, after entering the army and the General Political Department, she still sat on the bench for five years. Even if she filmed a movie and played the lead actress, it didn't cause a turning point in her fate.

Until she met Wei Ming, until he strongly recommended her to star in *Herdsman*, her life path began to move into the fast lane.

When in contact with Director Xie Jin in the crew, he once "accidentally" revealed that in order to let her play this lead actress, Wei Ming had belittled the Shanghai Er Yingchang's direct descendants like Chen Chong and Zhang Yu as worthless.

She could obtain this precious opportunity; Wei Ming could be said to be her greatest noble person.

So now she had new entanglement and confusion. Could she still come back after going to the Shanghai Er Yingchang to film this time?

She even thought, maybe the unit should just refuse her transfer, and let Director Song Chong choose someone else.

However, while thinking, a little sister in the dormitory came to find her.

"Sister Xue, the leader is looking for you!"

Gong Ruzheng knew it should be about the application, so she put down the magazine.

This colleague little sister, who was only in her early twenties, walked affectionately beside Gong Ruzheng: "Sister Xue, in the future, when you become a movie star, if there is a suitable opportunity, you must think of me."

Gong Ruzheng smiled and nodded: "Definitely."

The drama troupe was also a small society. Sister Xue had also learned to treat people hypocritically. She knew she definitely wouldn't. This little sister hadn't said less cool words when her *Sacrificial Red* failed.

If there was a suitable opportunity, she would definitely prioritize Gong Ying.

Arriving at the leader's office, Gong Ruzheng obtained an approval certificate, which meant that at the earliest, she could buy a ticket tomorrow to return to the Magic City to prepare to join the crew. Everything over there was ready, just waiting for her, the lead actress.

Gong Ruzheng thanked the leader and left the office building. She thought about calling Wei Ming to say goodbye, but didn't expect him to come looking for her again.

Wei Ming straddled the motorcycle and said: "Go, take you to a place."

"What place?" Gong Ruzheng asked, but her action of getting on the car was without hesitation.

This time Wei Ming rode a bit fast, and the wind was a bit strong. Gong Ruzheng helplessly hugged his waist lightly, not daring to hug it firmly.

Even so, the two of them were quite eye-catching driving on the street. If they were stopped by the old ladies of the "Small Foot Detective Team," they could only lie and say they were dating.

Thinking of this, Gong Ruzheng's face flushed again. Fortunately, she was wearing a helmet, and no one could see her face. Thanks to the helmet.

"Going to my house. I've already moved there. Take you to recognize the door."

Hearing that she was going to Wei Ming's house, Gong Ruzheng was very nervous: "Why not go during the day?"

It was already night, and it wasn't very appropriate.

Wei Ming: "I have to go to work during the day. Don't you have to go to work?"

Gong Ruzheng thought that she was about to return to the Magic City, and might leave tomorrow, so she didn't object anymore.

Ma Xiaowei is upright; what does she have to be afraid of?

When entering the door, she greeted the guard, Old Man Sun. Wei Ming said he was bringing a friend to recognize the door, and the old man let them pass.

After all, most of the residents here were overseas Chinese or the elite class. Old Man Sun had also seen the world and wasn't surprised.

Wei Ming parked the car downstairs and went to the third floor. Only then did Gong Ruzheng take off her helmet.

Wei Ming also introduced: "The neighbor over there is Mr. Wu Zuoren and his wife, the elderly Mrs. Xiao Shufang."

"What!" Gong Ruzheng was greatly shocked.

Her father and brother were both engaged in painting, and she herself had learned painting since childhood. Although she couldn't be called a professional, it was her biggest hobby besides acting, so she naturally had heard of Wu Zuoren's great name.

Hearing that Wu Zuoren was a proud student of Xu Beihong and was well-versed in both Chinese and Western studies, and had even tricked a foreign wife back to China from abroad, this should be a common topic with Wei Ming.

Then, as soon as she entered the door, she saw a painting by Wu Zuoren.

Wei Ming pointed to the *Xiong Mao Holding Bamboo* and said to her: "This is the gift Mr. Wu gave me, his new neighbor. Afterwards, he regretted it, saying he repainted two panda paintings, but neither was as vivid and fresh as this one."

Gong Ruzheng, who liked painting, stood in front of the painting and studied and pondered it seriously, sighing endlessly: "Worthy of being a master's work!"

She compared it with some similar animal ink paintings by her father, and the gap was not generally large. Afterwards, she also appreciated a lotus painting by the elderly Mrs. Xiao Shufang. She was also a professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, and her skills were quite superb.

At this time, Wei Ming held the bright red thermos and said: "Drink tea or drink coffee?"

"You have coffee here?" Gong Ruzheng was pleasantly surprised. Drinking coffee was a hobby in the bones of Magic City people.

"Looks like you like drinking coffee. Take it away later; there's still more than half a can of Nescafe."

When Wei Ming was brewing coffee, Gong Ruzheng realized how big Wei Ming's house was. She felt that one living room exceeded the housing area of their family.

They were just an ordinary family in the Magic City. Every time she went home, she had to squeeze into her sister's single bed. Three generations of seven people lived in a space of fifty or sixty square meters.

So she could imagine how much Ma Xiaowei had paid for this house.

However, although Wei Ming's house was big, it was also very empty. Gong Ruzheng realized that she should buy some gifts to fill this place.

"What gift or not, you coming is the best gift." Wei Ming added some milk candy to Gong Ruzheng, which made it easier to enter the mouth.

There were no coffee cups at home, so make do with a glass. It was just a container.

Gong Ruzheng held the hot glass and also visited Wei Ming's study. Because there was a bookshelf and a desk, it was relatively full here, especially this beautiful bookshelf, which was already full of books, and the cabinet under the bookshelf was full of readers' letters.

In addition, Gong Ruzheng also saw *Records of the Grand Historian* and *Sleepy Tiger Land Qin Slips* on the desk.

She asked curiously: "Why have you started doing historical research again recently?"

Wei Ming: "Writing a novel that needs it."

She was even more strange: "Isn't your new work going to write a story before the founding of the country?"

Wei Ming pointed to this huge empty house: "That's a long-form novel that hasn't been started yet, and I don't know when it will be finished. But buying the house has emptied my savings, and I haven't installed a telephone yet, so I can only write a medium-length one to earn some royalties." Since it was mentioned, Wei Ming took out the drawings of *Heroes Come from Youth* and handed them to her.

"When you return to the Magic City, give it to Auntie. This royalty also has my share, which should be able to alleviate a lot."

Gong Ruzheng solemnly put it away and informed: "I want to leave tomorrow. Director Song is also quite anxious over there."

Wei Ming rejoiced: "Fortunately, I went to find you today; otherwise, I would have missed you."

Gong Ruzheng drank two sips of coffee, her eyes narrowed, very enjoyable. She felt it was more mellow than the one-yuan-a-cup one next to Zhang Ailing's former residence in the Magic City.

Wei Ming asked with a smile: "Is it good?"

"It's good."

Wei Ming reached out: "Then let me taste it."

"Haven't you tasted your own?"

Wei Ming: "I find it bitter when I drink it myself, but you drink it so fragrantly, so I want to taste it again."

!

Gong Ruzheng wanted to say brew a cup yourself, but it didn't seem polite, so she handed the cup over.

Wei Ming was even more impolite, drinking directly from where she had just used it. After drinking, he wiped his mouth and handed it back, letting her continue drinking. He really thought too much; it was still that "forcing" taste.

Gong Ruzheng took it shyly and drank again, feeling a different experience.

Gong Ruzheng just came to recognize the door and couldn't stay too long. She was afraid the guard would misunderstand, so she wanted to say goodbye after drinking coffee.

Although he was reluctant to let Gong Ruzheng's popularity leave, Wei Ming didn't stop her. The family had seen enough; he couldn't let her visit the bed in his bedroom.

Before going out, Gong Ruzheng borrowed Wei Ming's restroom, but Wei Ming didn't hear the sound of the flush toilet.

Because Gong Ruzheng was just taking out money.

She had just received the subsidy from the crew for this period and hadn't had time to deposit it in the bank, so she put it in her underwear pocket.

"This is 50 yuan. Although it's not much, it can be used for emergencies. Take it."

Wei Ming didn't decline, because he could feel that this fifty yuan had temperature.

"Alright then, I dare not refuse the elder's gift."

Gong Ruzheng raised her little fist and said in dialect: "I'll hit you!"

Wei Ming stretched his face over and replied in Sichuan-Chongqing dialect: "Hit me then, hit me then."

Gong Ruzheng pouted and, imitating the way Wei Ming touched her face that day, touched his face too.

Ma Xiaowei seems to have the potential of a "white-faced boy." His skin is very good, his features are superior, and there is short stubble on his chin, which feels excellent.

Afraid of getting addicted to touching, Gong Ruzheng withdrew her hand in time and broke the ambiguous atmosphere: "Let's go, send me back."

"Oh."

Wei Ming also restrained himself, enduring it so hard.

If he only knew one Gong Ruzheng now, even if there was an age gap, even if the final result might not be ideal, he felt he would attack directly.

But he happened to know another equally good Sister Zhu Lin, and she was single because of him. Let's assume it was for him.

So Wei Ming didn't dare to advance rashly toward either of them; he was afraid of losing balance.

However, letting her leave like this, Wei Ming was a bit unwilling.

"Sister Xue, you came here, shouldn't you leave something behind?"

Gong Ruzheng said aggrievedly: "I've already left fifty yuan."

Wei Ming: "That's a loan; I'll pay it back. Wait for me."

Wei Ming went to the neighbor's house and knocked on Old Mr. Wu's door. After a while, Wei Ming returned with some brushes, some rice paper, an inkstone, and pigments in his hand.

"Sister Xue, leave some talent."

It turned out to be asking her to paint. A false alarm. Gong Ruzheng breathed a sigh of relief, followed by a guilty conscience.

"You have Mr. Wu and his wife's paintings hanging in your living room, and you want to hang my painting too. Don't you want face?"

Wei Ming persuaded: "Then I can hang it in the bedroom or study; guests won't see it, that's fine."

Seeing that he had started grinding ink, Gong Ruzheng had no choice but to agree. There were already bamboo and lotus flowers in this house. She looked at the color palette Wei Ming brought, which had green and purple.

"Then I'll paint some grapes."

So Gong Ruzheng left her *Purple Grapes* at Wei Ming's house and also left her signature.

She said shamefully: "I didn't paint well this time. I will practice again after I go home. Once I paint a good one, I will come and replace this one."

Wei Ming thought I wouldn't exchange it with you. This painting made in a hurry is more meaningful; I still have to find someone to mount it.

It was colder when going back. Wei Ming said: "If you're cold, hug tighter."

"No, not cold." Sister Xue's mouth was very hard, but seeing Wei Ming take a road with few people, her hands began to wrap around his wasp waist, and her whole body stuck to his tiger back.

Gong Ruzheng: Feels so secure!

Wei Ming: Feels so flat~

The next day, Wei Ming came to the Nanmen of Peking University. The guy at the guard post told him that a package from Hong Kong had just been received and said with a bit of disappointment: "Brother Ming, will you not need us to help you receive letters in the future?"

Wei Ming patted his shoulder: "There will definitely still be some sent to the school. You'll still have to work hard."

"Oh, and I just received a call from Uncle Wei from home. He said he knew about the house purchase. He'll come to see it after Xiao Hong finishes the college entrance examination."

Wei Ming was stunned: "What, Xiao Hong's college entrance examination?!"

Wei Jiefang made this call to Wei Ming at the county post office.

Early in the morning, he drove a donkey cart to the County No. 1 Middle School to deliver milk to his daughter, and then met Teacher Zang Kefou, who told him that the preliminary college entrance examination results were out.

"Principal Wei, congratulations. Wei Hong scored first in the county this time, more than forty points higher than the second place. The teachers of the graduating class unanimously determined that student Wei Hong already has the strength to impact Peking University!"

Lao Lao Lao Wei immediately wanted to tell Wei Ming this good news and asked about the specific problems of the house. He couldn't wait to write a letter. Make a call, but unfortunately, his son wasn't in the dormitory at the time.

Lao Lao Lao Wei thought his son must have already moved into the new house. Good guy, it's three times the size of Pingan's house. It's really more beautiful the more he thinks about it.

After returning to the village and the village primary school, Lao Lao Lao Wei looked at the students studying hard and was even more satisfied.

In another month or so, the final exam would be held. Besides the graduating class being able to get scholarships, the top three in other grades could also go to Yanjing for tourism. This group of naughty children were all competing.

When he came to the office, Qi Kexiu was sighing. Seeing "Principal Wei" enter, he hurriedly put away a letter and then put on a smiling face for his brother-in-law.

No way, now Wei Jiefang is the honorary principal equivalent to the dean of students, and in July, he also wanted to return to Yanjing with the excellent students. Under the eaves, one has to bow one's head.

Wei Jiefang still had to raise cattle, so he left after sitting for a while. After he left, Qi Kexiu took out the rejection letter from *Storytelling*.

Inside was also the 1000-word short martial arts novel *Heroes Come from Middle Age* that he had spent months writing.

He originally thought that *Heroes Come from Youth* had finished serialization and *Storytelling* needed a new masterpiece. His novel happened to meet the opportunity. If they had a discerning eye, he could continue writing, turning the short story into a medium-length one, or even a long one.

As a result, they were blind. Qi Kexiu could only continue to be a dust-covered pearl.

Outside the Health Research Institute of the Medical Academy.

Wei Ming took off his helmet and put on sunglasses.

He came to wait after work at noon. If Zhu Lin came out to eat at noon, he would be able to meet her.

If she chose to eat in the unit canteen, he would come again tomorrow until he met her.

But Wei Ming wouldn't go to the door to find someone. Breaking up with her partner had already caused her to receive some speculation and controversy in the unit.

He didn't want to cause her trouble.

While waiting, a familiar beautiful figure appeared in Wei Ming's black and white world!

(Does everyone still have monthly tickets? Asking for help! Old Buddha continues to write!)

(End of chapter)