[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-rising-in-1979":3,"chapter-rising-in-1979-rising-in-1979-chapter-212":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Rising in 1979",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2260920,4412,"Chapter 212: Snow Sister Achieves Great Merit (Guaranteed Dual-Chapter)","rising-in-1979-chapter-212",212,"\u003Cp>Old Wei held the phone and called again: “Hey, son, why aren’t you speaking?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Lin gripped the receiver, nervous and unsure what to do—she’d answered Wei’s friend’s call, but this was his father!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she’d already picked up the phone; staying silent wasn’t appropriate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Zhu Lin was about to say “Uncle,” she heard the sound of the door opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Wei’s back!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Lin exhaled in relief, shook the receiver, and quickly waved at him to take the call.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming stared, visibly stunned at Zhu Lin’s black stockings on one leg, his gaze locked—making Zhu Lin furious: If you don’t come over soon, I’ll speak, and then you’ll have to explain yourself, hmph!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the initial shock, Wei Ming happily ran over and took the receiver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Wei finally heard a voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s going on with you, son? Why so quiet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing it was Old Wei’s voice, Wei Ming sat up straight immediately—no wonder Zhu Lin had stayed silent and made him take the call; now he understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was talking the whole time; maybe the signal was bad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, I dropped your sister off at school—she’s here too. Let her talk to you first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Hong: “Brother, my college entrance exam is on the sixth next month—will you come home to be with me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time flies so fast—just a week left until the 1980 college entrance exam. Wei Ming said: “I’ll come, definitely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good,” Wei Hong sighed in relief. “After the exam, I’m coming to Beijing with you. I’ll spend the whole summer in Beijing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming glanced at Zhu Lin: Xiao Hong, you’d better not come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s wait until after the exam. If you fail, you’ll stay home and prep for retaking it,” Wei Ming threatened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not going to enjoy myself—I’m going to cook and wash clothes for you. Mom says the house can’t be without a woman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming: “Mom’s right—but I already have one woman here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phone returned to Old Wei’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wanted to stay and support Xiao Hong through her exam, but unfortunately, Director Wu just called—I need to take three dairy cows to Shandong right away. I’ll be leaving in the next two days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, ‘The Cow and Cow Two’ is starting production?” Wei Ming said. “Then I’ll come over too, after a while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Wei sighed again: “Elementary school finals are coming up soon—I wanted to award prizes to the top students, but I’ll miss it. You’ll have to do it for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming smiled: “You can write a speech in advance—I’ll read it for you. That way, you’ll still feel involved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehe, I already wrote it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talking about the village school made Old Wei happy: “You really should come back and see it—the school’s changed so much. Besides your money, the county has also allocated funds—just because of your reputation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming was earning more and more, and had already planned long-term support for the village school. Once his business grew, he’d even donate to build schools in his mother’s hometown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How’s my grandma doing now? Is she used to living in the northern plains?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Her health’s much better now. The Union Hospital’s medicine, plus the dry air here, has made her legs stronger. She just misses home—constantly talking about the fields, your uncle, your aunt, your cousins.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming: “What does my mom think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your mom wants to wait until I’m done with work and the rainy season ends in Sichuan, then take Grandma back to Ya’an together. After that, we’ll bring her here every year during Sichuan’s wettest months.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That works.” Though Grandma missed her daughter, she couldn’t bear to leave her homeland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Wei sighed: “It’s too much trouble, especially for someone her age.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming thought: “They can fly—directly to Chengdu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Fly?” Old Wei’s lips trembled—could ordinary people like them even fly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming: “Ask Uncle Anping to help apply for it. Money’s no problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Lin thought: No wonder you’re broke—you’d never save a cent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Wei Ming asked about his cousin Yunyun: “What about Yunyun? Does she want to go back home?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Wei: “I think Yunyun’s adapted well to northern life. From what Grandma and your mom say, if Yunyun can find a good match in Beijing, why go back to suffer in the countryside?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Lao She once said: even a dog should be reborn in Beijing—how much more so a person?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming understood: “Alright, after we send Grandma off, let Yunyun come to Beijing—I’ll help her find a job.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? You can arrange a job?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Dongfang Xintiandi opens, it’ll need sales assistants. Yunyun’s beautiful—perfect candidate. As a major shareholder, he had that much influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Wei chuckled and hung up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming hung up, pulled Zhu Lin into his arms, and slid his hand under her skirt—but she’d already taken off the stockings during the call. Disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why didn’t you keep them on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Lin: “I don’t like wearing other people’s socks—unlike some people who like wearing my clothes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming laughed: “Those weren’t mine—they just happened to be left here. I couldn’t throw them away, so I hid them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Were those really ordinary socks?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming bit Zhu Lin’s ear: “You noticed how sexy they look when worn, didn’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no feeling—black and ugly,” Zhu Lin said, eyes shut, stubborn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming decided to buy her a new pair later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, enough of that—let’s cook.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Lin said: “Before your dad called, Long from the Film Academy phoned.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She relayed Liu Rulong’s message to Wei Ming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming sighed: “I wanted to spend more time with you, but it looks like I’ll have to leave early next month.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First go to Shanghai, then home. Peking University’s finals are ending soon—soon it’ll be vacation, and I can rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t need you to stay,” Zhu Lin had planned to warn him to stay pure in Shanghai, but the words changed at her lips: “Just keep me in your heart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming hugged Zhu Lin tighter: “Don’t worry—I’ll come back soon. I’ll return after Xiao Hong’s exam.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The exam is July 6, 7, 8—Wei Ming should be back around the 10th.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Wei Ming coaxed Zhu Lin into cooking for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Me? Aren’t you supposed to make Mapo Tofu for me?” Zhu Lin pouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t buy tofu today. Tomorrow—I’ll go to the market early tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he took the stockings and a small package at the door into the study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was sent by Gong Ying—Wei Ming opened it to find several photos and a letter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming thought the woman in the photos would be Zhang Yu—instead, they were all Gong Ying!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In every photo, Snow Sister wore different outfits—fashionable, stunning, far ahead of contemporary women’s fashion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quickly shut the study door—this couldn’t be seen by Zhu Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After deciding to start a clothing business, Wei Ming had anticipated that next month’s “Lushan Love” would spark a Zhang Yu craze, especially her outfits in the film, wildly popular among young women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides romance and kissing scenes, “Lushan Love” was also a fashion hit—the female lead changed outfits 43 times, unimaginable in this plain era. All clothes were specially bought from Hong Kong, fashion-forward by a generation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Wei Ming had wired Gong Ying, asking if she could get a few stills or costume photos of the lead—his plan was to have Beijing factories copy them, then launch them when the film became popular.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beautiful styles were plentiful in Hong Kong—but only Zhang Yu’s worn outfits had potential to trend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gong Ying had truly gone all out for Wei Ming—her letter made it clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The director of ‘Lushan Love’ said the lead’s photos can’t be leaked before release, but the costumes are still in the Shanghai Film Studio warehouse. He told me to ask the warehouse manager—I told him I wanted to copy these Hong Kong outfits for myself. Then I had my mom take these photos—front and back. You should be able to replicate them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming praised her: Snow Sister was brilliant—and an excellent model, perfectly showcasing each outfit’s strengths. He thought they could be used directly as promotional posters on store doors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But how had she explained it to her mom?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t mention it in the letter, but wrote: “Don’t laugh—I’ve never worn so many beautiful clothes in my life. I once auditioned for ‘Lushan Love’—now I regret it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming laughed—he could feel Snow Sister’s joy in every word. Girls truly couldn’t resist beautiful clothes. He was now even more certain Dongfang Xintiandi’s market would be huge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But “Lushan Love” premiered in half a month—he had to move fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After dinner, Wei Ming said: “Zhu Lin, rest at home. I’m going back to school—I’ll pick you up tonight for the play.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re leaving?” Zhu Lin was reluctant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming hugged her, hands growing restless: “If you really want me to stay, I won’t go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Lin pushed him playfully: “Then go. You can’t wear me out all day long.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t mind herself—but feared Wei Ming, so young, would damage his Qi. Old saying: only oxen die from overwork, never fields ruined by plowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming took his bag to the dorm at Peking University’s south gate—now effectively the startup team’s temporary base, conveniently accessible thanks to the motorcycle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After days of moving from place to place, Xiao Mei and the others had exchanged nearly all their dollars for RMB at high black-market rates—enough to rent storefronts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d also found a vacant shop in Xidan—though in a back alley, it was a solid choice. They were negotiating the price with authorities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming: “Xiao Mei, keep negotiating. Biaozi, tell Auntie we need clothes made—I brought the photos. No detailed patterns, but she’s an old tailor—this shouldn’t be hard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming placed Snow Sister’s photos on the table and circled several key designs—these needed multiple copies. Biaozi’s eyes lit up: “What a beautiful sister!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Mei glanced once and recognized: “Yes, her—she came to Peking University looking for you. Gong Ying, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Biaozi: “She’s Gong Ying?! So much prettier than in ‘Mass Film’!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In ‘Mass Film’ photos, she looked like a village girl with kids—beauty constrained by makeup. But now, in modern fashion, this was Snow Sister’s true element—even Zhang Yu herself would look provincial beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming told them these were outfits worn by the lead in next month’s Shanghai Film Studio blockbuster “Lushan Love”—he’d asked a friend to get them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have a feeling this movie will go viral, especially among youth. If we launch these outfits with the film’s hype, we won’t have to worry about our first launch failing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Biaozi and Xiao Mei both wondered: wasn’t Ming-ge dating another Beijing girl? Why was he still in touch with this Shanghai girl?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She went to such lengths for him—clearly their relationship wasn’t simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both men wore subtle smiles. Xiao Mei immediately took Biaozi to find his mom about custom tailoring. Wei Ming headed into the city too—but to buy tickets for the People’s Art Theatre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tonight there was a play, \"Wang Zhaojun,\" and he found all official tickets sold out, so he rushed to the entrance to look for Li Guangfu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw others also trying to reach actors from the People’s Art Theatre, but the gatekeeper refused to announce them—the old guard knew instantly they were trying to sneak in through back channels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming’s eyes darted, and a plan came to him: “Old man, please call Li Guangfu for me—I’m his neighbor. His house is on fire! Hurry, get him out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gatekeeper: “What? On fire? Oh my goodness!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, he saw a man in Han Dynasty eunuch costume sprinting out in a panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, what’s wrong? Why’s it on fire?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he spotted the famous writer Wei Ming, who was struggling to hold back laughter, he realized he’d been tricked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Guangfu, don’t be angry—I was just afraid I wouldn’t see you, so I resorted to this trick. My fault. Tomorrow, pick any restaurant in Beijing—I’ll treat you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing such words from a major writer, Li Guangfu’s anger vanished instantly. He even laughed: “No problem, no problem. I’m actually glad—first, because I’ve seen you again; second, because I feel like I’ve regained something lost. Did you come here specially for me, Writer Wei?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming nodded, sizing up Li Guangfu: “Are you in tonight’s ‘Wang Zhaojun’ too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sharp eyes—I play the eunuch beside Emperor Yuan of Han.” He flicked his fly whisk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming cut straight to the point: “I want to buy tickets for this show, but they’re sold out. Can you arrange something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How many?” Li Guangfu asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guangfu: “Wait a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Li Guangfu returned with two tickets, and Wei Ming paid him the full price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guangfu didn’t refuse, took the money, and said: “Honestly, with your fame, just name your name and the People’s Art Theatre would gladly give you free tickets.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guangfu: “I think it’s no big deal—you’d just have to leave something behind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like adaptation rights to your works,” Li Guangfu smiled. “I just saw President Yu’s desk has a copy of ‘Fierce Animals’ sitting on it all the time—I bet he’s set his sights on you, the new literary star.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming thought it was nothing much, and generously replied: “If the People’s Art Theatre wants it, go ahead and adapt it—no charge!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his past life, his years at the People’s Art Theatre had been excellent, and Old Blue had shown him great kindness. The theater rights weren’t worth much—giving them away wouldn’t hurt, and it would expand his work’s influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Guangfu knew the rumors about Wei Ming’s generosity and chivalry were true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recently, he’d heard this man treated every student at the Literature Study Institute to a meal at Donglaishun—spent the price of a bicycle in one sitting, with no reason, just because he felt like it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His reputation for treating people to meals had spread through the institute and reached every corner of the literary world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After getting the tickets, Wei Ming went straight home, bought two pieces of tofu on the way, and rushed into the kitchen to make Mapo Tofu for Sister Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she ate the tofu Wei Ming made, and Wei Ming ate her tofu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Lin was surprised Wei Ming had such skill—the tofu was numbingly spicy and fragrant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re spicy too~” Wei Ming reluctantly let go of her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finally finishing dinner, Wei Ming took Zhu Lin out to the play. She sighed: “Too late now—I can’t withdraw money. I’ll pay you back tomorrow—no, the day after tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No rush, no rush.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the two arrived at the People’s Art Theatre on Wangfujing Street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tonight’s “Wang Zhaojun” was a play written by Mr. Cao Yu, one of the “Lu Guo Mao Ba Lao Cao” group; its premiere was in 1978, and the actress playing the elderly Zhaojun was Di Xin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming knew her well—he’d even eaten her cooking. She was the wife of Old Blue Tianye, and a senior actress of the People’s Art Theatre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After watching the two-hour play, it was very late. Zhu Lin had been fully absorbed in the performance; when they stepped out, she still felt its lingering resonance, awed by the actors’ skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming thought for a moment and said: “If after studying at the Film Academy you don’t want to return to your original job, you could try applying to the People’s Art Theatre or the Youth Art Theatre.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Youth Art Theatre was one of the predecessors of today’s National Theatre and was currently Beijing’s second-largest theater troupe after the People’s Art Theatre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Lin gasped: “Can I even get in? I’m just an amateur.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“True—you’re no match for the professionals in acting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Lin: “Mm!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming hurried to add: “But you’re beautiful, and you’re my good sister. If you’re interested, I’ll find a way—I’ll go to the People’s Art Theatre tomorrow and smooth things over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they reached the gates of the Industrial College, Zhu Lin said before getting out: “I won’t come tomorrow—I’ll take my parents to Friendship Store after work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming: “You don’t need to buy Durex—I bought a lot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Lin twisted his thigh hard from the backseat—shut up, you joker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Lin thought Wei Ming’s promise to smooth things over at the People’s Art Theatre was just talk—but the next day, he actually went.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Early in the morning, he went straight to Li Guangfu’s door and blocked him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh my, Writer Wei, what brings you here so early?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I promised to treat you to lunch today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I already ate breakfast at home~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming waved his hand: “Then it’s lunch then. Also, I’d like to visit the People’s Art Theatre—any chance?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Li Guangfu was just a minor supporting actor at the People’s Art Theatre, Wei Ming was a major figure—his visit would likely draw the deputy director himself to accompany him, and it would bring Li Guangfu honor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Li Guangfu eagerly agreed: “Of course! Very convenient!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally Li Guangfu walked to work, but today Wei Ming drove him there on his motorcycle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, using his insider status, Li Guangfu brought Wei Ming backstage at the People’s Art Theatre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, Wei Ming felt right at home—he’d spent nearly ten years here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Wei Ming was lost in nostalgia, a refined young man walked toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Li, who’s this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guangfu smiled: “You don’t recognize him? Writer Wei Ming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Lixin exclaimed: “The Wei Ming who wrote ‘The Herdsman’ and ‘The Flock of Sheep’? You’re even younger than the newspapers said!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the newspapers didn’t say you were this handsome!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Lixin, who joined the People’s Art Theatre in 1975, had been one of the most handsome young men in the troupe—but beside Writer Wei, he looked utterly ordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as they spoke, backstage actors gathered around, greeting Wei Ming warmly and trying to bond with him through his works.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this era, anyone in the arts who hadn’t read Wei Ming’s work was an oddity—even if they disliked it, his stories were repeatedly published in major journals and praised by official newspapers; you couldn’t avoid him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were all familiar faces—Dong Xingji, Lin Liankun—Wei Ming greeted them warmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When asked why he was here, he replied humbly: “Purely out of admiration. Since I already know Brother Guangfu, I asked him to bring me backstage to see how a play is rehearsed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Wei Ming spotted a middle-aged man with glasses and a square face. Everyone parted to let this veteran pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming stepped forward and extended both hands to shake the old man’s—this was Blue Tianye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re Wei Ming?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. I should call you Uncle Wang,” Wei Ming said softly. “My grandfather is Wei Senhao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Blue’s expression changed—he knew this rising writer was from his hometown, but never imagined he was from the next village, and the son of an old friend!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Wei Ming mentioned Wei Senhao’s name, the old man immediately took him to his office and asked: “How is Brother Wei now? I heard he retired and returned home, but I haven’t been back to our hometown in years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his past life, Wei Ming had told the old man about his grandfather’s death, and only then did Blue Tianye reveal his underground work history—he had served under Wei Senhao, and it was because of that connection that he’d brought Wei Ming to Beijing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now Wei Ming couldn’t tell the truth, so he explained his grandfather had died in battle. The old man sighed deeply, his eyes welling up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, your grandfather was truly formidable. Every Nationalist and Central Intelligence officer trembled at his nickname. Even puppet troops fled in terror when they heard he was coming!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming knew the name Blue Tianye was a cover—he was originally surnamed Wang. He hadn’t expected his grandfather had a nickname too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What was his nickname?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Blue wiped his eyes: “Yan Shuangying!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3358,"2026-06-19T16:30:58.707Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6367ac28616b71a39131bc0ce534adb8e66058a6952928216516f156ac376500","rising-in-1979-chapter-213","rising-in-1979-chapter-211",509,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frising-in-1979-cover.jpg"]