Chapter 267

The next day, when Dai Jinhua was in class, her eyes were red. She even dreamed that she and her son, who didn't know where he came from, were having a life-and-death separation, which was moving.

But she still gave Wei Ming's new work a low score, feeling that the story was too vulgar and lacked depth.

Wei Ming hadn't had a serious work published for a year. If his long-form historical theme, which was highly anticipated, was also this kind of frivolous and superficial thing, then this would undoubtedly be a great loss to the literary world.

There were quite a few literary critics who held this view, all feeling that Wei Ming was overqualified for writing this kind of popular script, and they asked questions in newspapers and periodicals, painfully persuading Wei Ming not to go astray.

However, reflected in the market...

"Give me a copy of 'Huacheng,' the issue with 'Mom, Love Me Once Again'!"

"Is there still 'Huacheng'? Leave me a copy!"

"I want 'Huacheng,' heard there is a script by Wei Ming in this issue..."

"Leader, I'll go first, have to go to the post office to order magazines, yes, 'Huacheng'."

The newsstand outside Peking University lined up in a long queue again. The old man at the newsstand recalled that in the past six months, besides the "Harvest" that published the finale of "Wasted Years" last month, it seemed that it was only this lively today.

The quality of this issue of "Huacheng" was indeed not hard enough. Generally, the biggest selling point of this kind of literary magazine is the novels on it.

Many readers only read novels, and other essays, literary reviews, and scripts are not read. But the quality of the novels in this issue was mediocre, so the first printing was only a conservative 450,000 copies.

Of course, 450,000 was still stronger than "Contemporary" and "October," just not as good as "Harvest," this old egg.

But soon the "Huacheng" editorial department received receipts from all sides, and the shipping speed far exceeded their expectations, so they simply held a meeting and then announced an additional printing!

Another 200,000 copies!

Thanks to the general improvement in literacy, even people without high literary pursuits still had reading needs. It was rumored in the streets that "Mom, Love Me Once Again" was touching and very worth reading. As long as you read it, no one could help but cry.

So some elderly uncles and aunts ordered "Huacheng" one after another, wanting to prove that they were different from ordinary people, and then they were recruited one after another.

Wei Ming's influence also took the opportunity to enter the middle-aged and elderly field.

Young people might have a few who could hold on, but older people really came one by one, specializing in treating stubborn mouths.

Especially readers who were mothers with children, after reading it, even if the child was a bear child, they were instantly full of maternal love and willing to satisfy any of the child's requirements. This state could last at least three days.

So among the children, such a passage also spread:

Grades not good? Not afraid, there is "Mom, Love Me Once Again"!

Caused trouble? Not afraid, there is "Mom, Love Me Once Again"!

Called parents? Not afraid, there is "Mom, Love Me Once Again"!

Lu Xiaoyan didn't read this novel under Xizi's recommendation, but when she returned home from work and saw her husband crying silently alone, she knew Little Ming had a new work again.

Wei Ping was embarrassed and wiped away his tears: "I miss Xizi's grandmother."

He had been told since he was a child that he was a posthumous child. Although his aunt and uncle were very good to him, the person he was closest to was still his own mother.

That silent woman, whose eyes seemed to hide countless secrets, had the delicate tenderness rare in rural women. Every time he thought of her, Wei Ping had the regret that the son wanted to support but the parent was not there, so he could best understand this kind of unforgettable mother-son affection.

"I announce that this is my favorite Little Ming work. I really want to see this script filmed." Wei Ping said.

He evaluated it so highly, Lu Xiaoyan had to read it no matter what.

So this night Wei Ping was comforting Lu Xiaoyan, whose emotions fluctuated violently, telling her: No one can separate you and Xizi Lele.

The next day, seeing Xizi not eating well, playing while eating, and affecting Lele's eating, Lu Xiaoyan, who would definitely blow her beard and stare at him, was gently persuading him and handing it to his mouth with a spoon, simply full of maternal love.

But this scared Xizi.

"Mom, don't be like this, I'm scared." Xizi was vigilant, no matter who you are, get away from my mom!

Lu Xiaoyan went berserk directly: "Eat or not!"

Xizi breathed a sigh of relief, that's right!

He didn't want Mom, Love Me Once Again, it's Mom, Beat Me Once Again that makes people feel at ease.

Sent Xile to kindergarten, Lu Xiaoyan had another idea. If this script is adapted, then does Xizi have a play to film again?

Many people with insight could see that "Mom, Love Me Once Again" as a literary work was average, but as a movie work, it had infinite potential.

Because movies are a form of art that is more grounded than literature. A novel can have a million readers, which is already very remarkable, but in China at this time, a movie can easily have hundreds of millions of viewers. They don't need too profound big truths, just film some things they love to see.

And maternal love is undoubtedly the theme that can touch the widest audience group.

In the first week of the publication of this issue of "Huacheng," the Pearl River Er Yingchang found the editorial department.

At this time, there were seventeen film story studios in the country, which could film so-called feature films, not documentary news films.

Last year, these 17 studios produced 65 feature films, averaging more than three per studio.

Of course, film studios are different from film studios. The indicators that Beijing Er Yingchang and Shanghai Er Yingchang can get are naturally more.

Guangdong's film studio is in Pearl River, which is relatively strong in the second echelon, producing five feature films last year.

But unfortunately, there were no works with particularly great influence.

After seeing the script of "Mom, Love Me Once Again," Wang Weiyi, the factory director of the Pearl River Er Yingchang, realized the potential of this work and immediately ran to Guangzhou to ask Su Chen for the adaptation rights in person, and he wanted to direct it himself.

Wang Weiyi is also a famous director. The "Man's World" starring Hou Yaowen is his work, and the absurd "Three Women Rest Husband" by Pan Changjiang is also written by him. These two works are regulars on the movie channel.

Su Chen spread his hands to this predecessor in the film industry: "This is a work by the famous writer Wei Ming. How do we have the right to decide who films it?"

Wang Weiyi said: "Then where is he now? I'll write him a letter."

The Pearl River Er Yingchang wrote a letter, and the Emei Er Yingchang in Sichuan was even more determined. They sent the factory director Han Sanping to Yanjing to talk to Wei Ming in person.

After all, Han Sanping had some friendship with Wei Ming, and the prototype of this story happened in Sichuan. The factory also promised that if Han Sanping could win this project, the director position would be handed to him. He had never been a formal director. Now Han Sanping's enthusiasm was mobilized, and he bought a hard-seat ticket and killed his way to Yanjing.

However, he didn't know that Wei Ming was in the Magic City at this time, revising the manuscript frantically.

Magic City, Shanghai Er Yingchang is naturally close to the water.

Before getting off work, Deputy Factory Director Shi Fangyu stopped the editor of the literature department of the factory, Zhu Hongsheng: "Little Zhu, is that writer Wei Ming from Peking University in our Magic City?"

Zhu Hongsheng's father-in-law is named Li Yaotang, and his wife is named Li Xiaolin, who is Wei Ming's editor Li. He had mentioned to colleagues when working before that Wei Ming was revising the manuscript for "Harvest."

"Right, still at the Writers Association guesthouse."

Shi Fangyu was overjoyed: "Then you go to the guesthouse immediately and discuss the matter of filming with him. We want this script!"

Saying that, he handed over the "Huacheng" magazine and let Zhu Hongsheng glance at "Mom, Love Me Once Again."

After reading it, Zhu Hongsheng agreed immediately, but when he arrived at the guesthouse, the staff said Writer Wei had gone out with the Shanghai Er Yingchang actress Gong Xue.

"She is not our actress yet." Zhu Hongsheng corrected, then turned back to the "Harvest" editorial department helplessly, causing Editor Li to be overjoyed. Damn ghost, actually knew to pick her up from work.

"It's not specifically to pick you up," Zhu Hongsheng said honestly, "I came to find Wei Ming to discuss the adaptation of 'Mom, Love Me Once Again' into a movie. Do you know this work?"

"Of course I know!" Speaking of this, Li Xiaolin was angry. "This was written during the period of revising the manuscript for us, but it was finally submitted to 'Huacheng'!"

Zhu Hongsheng laughed: "Our Factory Director Shi took a fancy to it, and the public response is also very good. We want to take it and make it into a movie."

Li Xiaolin sighed: "Little Wei has become a fragrant bun again. I don't care about your business, but before finishing the revision of the first part of 'Human Righteousness is Vicissitudes,' he can't go anywhere and can't do anything!"

At this time, Wei Ming and Gong Xue were eating at the century-old local restaurant Dexingguan.

After returning from Yanjing, the two started to check in at famous restaurants in the Magic City, and also accumulated a lot of material for Wei Ming's essays.

During the meal, Wei Ming mentioned the adaptation of "Mom, Love Me Once Again" into a movie.

"Why hasn't the Shanghai Er Yingchang reacted yet? The Beijing Er Yingchang even called me long-distance today to ask about filming."

The Beijing Er Yingchang first made a call to the Overseas Chinese Apartments. Xu Shufen told them Wei Ming was revising the manuscript in the Magic City. Jiang Huaiyan was worried that the Shanghai Er Yingchang would start too fast, so he hurriedly let Liang Xiaosheng send a long-distance call to the guesthouse, expressing the sincerity of the Beijing Er Yingchang wanting to cooperate with Wei Ming again.

Wei Ming muddled through, because he wanted to leave it to the Shanghai Er Yingchang and use this to make a request for the Shanghai Er Yingchang to give Sister Xue a position.

As a result, Gong Xue was surprised: "You mean, you want the Shanghai Er Yingchang to film it?"

"Right, at that time I will say that I chose the Shanghai Er Yingchang for your sake. Maybe your position problem can also be solved."

Gong Xue was a bit embarrassed. She looked at Wei Ming: "Then can you cooperate with the Beijing Er Yingchang for my sake?"

"Ah?"

Gong Xue had never mentioned the matter of wanting to stay at the Beijing Er Yingchang to Wei Ming, because this matter hadn't been finalized yet. Factory Director Wang Yang said they had to hold a meeting to discuss it.

But now Gong Xue couldn't help but say: "Our unit is restructuring. I have already proposed to the leader that I want to focus on film, so after the wedding, I went to the Beijing Er Yingchang, hoping they could receive me."

Wei Ming's heart shook. Sister Lin also wanted to stay at the Beijing Er Yingchang, and because of her excellent performance in "Regret for the Past," it was highly likely to succeed.

"Factory Director Wang didn't agree, right?" he asked.

Gong Xue nodded: "Said they have to hold a meeting to consider it."

Gong Xue is indeed very excellent. "Good Things Come After Hardships" had good reviews, but the Beijing Er Yingchang already had three golden flowers, and also wanted to keep Zhu Lin and Fang Shu, but there were only so many movie quotas every year.

Suddenly there were so many high-value and high-level actresses. Where were there so many plays for them to film, and where were there so many houses for them to live in? I'm afraid there would be more wolves than meat, causing dissatisfaction among old employees like Liu Xiaoqing.

But Zhu Lin and Gong Xue both had an advantage, that is, they could not occupy the unit's housing indicators.

Forget it, if she wants to stay at the Beijing Er Yingchang, let her stay. He was not at ease leaving Sister Xue alone in the Magic City, and it would be chaotic in the Magic City in two years.

Wei Ming sighed: "Then okay, give it to the Beijing Er Yingchang. With this cooperation, it is reasonable for the Beijing Er Yingchang to keep you, but..."

"But what?"

Wei Ming gently held her hand: "But you have to be separated from your family, it's bitter for you."

Gong Xue's nose was sour: "Then you treat me better in the future."

If it weren't for a public place, Wei Ming really wanted to hold her in his arms and kiss her.

But there were plenty of opportunities after eating.

The renovation progress of the old foreign-style house on Huating Road had exceeded 50%. The inside of the house was almost finished, and now the courtyard was being reorganized.

Gong Xue heard her father say that he was also preparing to buy two cherry trees to transplant here.

This way, there are cherries to eat and cherry blossoms to see.

Later, Wei Ming sent Gong Xue back to the Shanghai Er Yingchang first, then returned to the guesthouse. The little girl at the front desk told him an editor from the Shanghai Er Yingchang was looking for him.

And Gong Xue was also called over by Deputy Factory Director Shi the next day.

"Little Gong, I heard you are very familiar with the writer Wei Ming. Recently the factory took a fancy to his new script 'Mom, Love Me Once Again.' Can you invite him out so we can sit down and talk." Shi Fangyu said.

Shi Fangyu felt that this must be easy to get, but didn't expect the problem to be with Gong Xue.

Gong Xue was very embarrassed. The Shanghai Er Yingchang was not thin to her, letting her act in so many plays, but now she had to abandon the Shanghai Er Yingchang for her lover, and also pushed the script to the Beijing Er Yingchang.

"Sorry Factory Director Shi, actually I have heard Wei Ming talk about this script, but the Beijing Er Yingchang has already contacted him, and they have basically agreed on this matter."

Yesterday they had already matched the lines, just saying the Beijing Er Yingchang came first, and they had to talk about first come, first served.

Gong Xue thought, wait until she becomes famous, if the Shanghai Er Yingchang has any requests, she will definitely agree.

Shi Fangyu murmured: "This Beijing Er Yingchang is so far away, but the move is quite fast."

However, he was not dead, and still hoped to meet Wei Ming through Gong Xue. Gong Xue could only agree.

And Wei Ming had already sent a telegram to the Beijing Er Yingchang, not saying he would film for the Beijing Er Yingchang, just saying he would return to Beijing next week and talk then.

But the Beijing Er Yingchang felt that they must get Wei Ming's permission immediately to ensure righteousness.

Because they could already feel the existence of competition, because a peer from the Emei Er Yingchang, Han Sanping, came to the Beijing Er Yingchang guesthouse this day, saying he was looking for Wei Ming in the capital and seeking help from brother units.

27-year-old Han Sanping came to his loyal Beijing Er Yingchang for the first time.

But the Beijing Er Yingchang was not kind, didn't tell him Wei Ming was in the Magic City, but secretly bought a ticket to the Magic City for Liang Xiaosheng.

Jiang Huaiyan ordered him that if Wei Ming agreed to cooperate, the factory would pay Wei Ming the script remuneration and let Liang Xiaosheng start the editing and modification work of this script directly in the Magic City. He must win righteousness.

The Beijing Er Yingchang was so urgent because it was criticized.

The cause was that a few months ago, the August First Er Yingchang and the Beijing Er Yingchang both took a fancy to Zhou Keqin's novel "Xu Mao and His Daughters" and started adaptation work one after another, but the August First Er Yingchang cooperated with the original author.

Just not long ago, the Film Bureau of the Ministry of Culture held a film coordination meeting, but the two film studios that were once brothers didn't give in to each other.

The August First Er Yingchang felt that they had negotiated with the author first, so they should film it. The Beijing Er Yingchang felt that the August First Er Yingchang should film war movies, and they were not good at this rural theme.

But after all, the original author was toward the August First Er Yingchang, and the Beijing Er Yingchang was not reasonable, so it was criticized. But in order for the three golden flowers to have plays to film, it was finally decided to forcibly start this project.

This situation was rare in the country. After all, movies were also planned, and two studios filming one story was purely a waste of national resources.

The Beijing Er Yingchang, which had already done this once, definitely couldn't do it again, so the determination to win Wei Ming this time was very firm.

And Han Sanping saw that the Beijing Er Yingchang couldn't provide any help, so he went to find Zhao Debiao. When filming in the same crew before, he left the address of Biaozi's home.

What he found was the big courtyard where Biaozi's mother was.

"Biaozi, that brat is very promising. He is a big boss now and doesn't live here anymore. You can go to his unit to find him."

Then he found the Oriental New Territories in Xidan under the guidance of the sour neighbors, not only found Biaozi and Yanzi inside, but also happened to meet Wei Jiefang who was delivering meals.

After sending away the eldest uncle and the others, Lao Lao Lao Wei and his mother had already started to supply work meals for New Territories, which was to cook more while cooking for themselves every day, which was steamed buns, noodles, fried pancakes, and other home-cooked meals, and grandmother could help, which was very easy.

New Territories paid according to the market price, and the couple could make at least more than 100 in profit a month, which was considered self-sufficient.

Lao Lao Lao Wei was responsible for purchasing and delivering meals, two meals a day, and after finishing, he could wander around the streets, recruiting cats and teasing dogs, which was very happy.

When hearing Han Sanping looking for Wei Ming, Biaozi said: "He is not in Yanjing, he went back to the Magic City long ago."

"Back to the Magic City?"

"Right, he is revising the manuscript for 'Harvest'," Huang Jiaoyan asked, "Director Han, what are you looking for him for?"

Han Sanping said lost: "I am representing the Emei Er Yingchang to seek a script, which is the 'Mom, Love Me Once Again' he wrote recently."

Lao Lao Lao Wei, who was distributing meals to the staff, inserted a sentence: "Why did you come so late? The Beijing Er Yingchang came to talk to him about this two days ago. I said he was in the Magic City, and they immediately sent a telegram."

"Ah, Beijing Er Yingchang?"

At this point, Han Sanping understood that the Beijing Er Yingchang was a competitive relationship with them. They knew Wei Ming was in the Magic City but didn't tell themselves.

Hmph, Beijing Er Yingchang, right? Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, don't bully the young and poor!

Han Sanping knew that the Emei Er Yingchang had no advantage compared to the Beijing Er Yingchang, and Wei Ming moved the story background from the Sichuan-Chongqing area to the Yangtze River Delta, and the Emei Er Yingchang's only local advantage was gone.

Forget it, this trip is just public-funded tourism.

Lao Lao Lao Wei laughed: "Young man, don't be discouraged. Haven't eaten yet, right? There are still two steamed buns left here, you cushion it first."

"Thanks, Uncle Wei." Han Sanping called affectionately, his mother was also from Hebei.

Biaozi hooked his shoulder and said: "Wait until the evening, I'll call that brat Wu Jing over, let's have a gathering of the crew, and let the brothers fulfill the friendship of the landlord."

Hearing Biaozi's bold tone, Han Sanping had the mood to look at this fashion-leading clothing and jewelry store, especially the business license pasted on the wall.

"Biaozi, I remember seeing you in the People's Daily. I didn't expect you to be so capable!"

"Me? What capability do I have? I'm just lucky, met the right person."

Actually, besides the Emei Er Yingchang, the Xi'an Er Yingchang also took an interest in "Mom, Love Me Once Again."

It just so happened that the main leaders of the Xi'an Er Yingchang raised objections to the "A Terracotta Warrior" project and simply persuaded Wu Tianming: "That 'A Terracotta Warrior' investment is too big, and the filming difficulty is unprecedented. Why don't you consider this 'Mom, Love Me Once Again,' anyway, you also know Wei Ming."

At this time, Wu Tianming had received Wei Ming's reply letter and insisted: "The investment is big, but it's not impossible to overcome. We are promoting Xi'an, promoting the terracotta warriors, so the cultural protection department should be able to provide some help to reduce the investment. In addition, we can also cooperate with Hong Kong film companies, just like the Beijing Er Yingchang's 'Heroes from Ancient Times'."

The factory director thought for a moment: "But we don't have the experience of co-produced films?"

"Right, why don't we look at the response of 'Heroes from Ancient Times' first? I heard that the Emei Er Yingchang's 'Mysterious Buddha' was filmed but not allowed to be released, saying it was too entertaining." Another deputy factory director said.

Wu Tianming shook his head. The older generation was still too conservative. He decided to go to Yanjing after finishing the post-production of "Cow and Cow Two," besides continuing to negotiate the adaptation with Wei Ming, it was also to find China Film to contact Hong Kong companies for co-production. He didn't believe Hong Kong people were not curious about the terracotta warriors.

That night, Wei Ming attended the appointment of Factory Director Shi Fangyu. Besides Gong Xue, there was also the editor Zhu Hongsheng.

Today Wei Ming sent several tens of thousands of words of modification manuscript to Editor Li, and already knew the identity of this Editor Zhu. He also affectionately called him "Brother-in-law," which made Factory Director Shi feel more stable.

The last one to arrive late was the popular young actor Guo Kaimin.

Factory Director Shi directly pointed the general: "Teacher Wei, how about it, Little Guo is one of the most popular male actors today. I'll let him play the male lead, let Little Gong play the female lead, 'Mom, Love Me Once Again' can be talked about, right."

In order to snatch this project from the Beijing Er Yingchang, Factory Director Shi took out the strongest lineup. Although Gong Xue was not as popular as Zhang Yu, with Wei Ming's relationship with Gong Xue, it was definitely more reliable to give the female lead to Gong Xue.

However, when the ignorant Guo Kaimin understood that he was talking about "Mom, Love Me Once Again," he immediately asked: "Is it letting me and Comrade Gong Xue act as mother and son? This is not appropriate, right."

Gong Xue's face changed. Act as mother and son? Am I that old!

Factory Director Shi said seriously: "Little Guo, what are you talking about? Let you play the little gourd's father Hu Zhiliang."

"Ah, this is even more impossible to act. My mother, my partner saw this script and hated this character to the bone. I can't act it." Guo Kaimin now also had some idol baggage. Acting as this kind of scumbag character would definitely be scolded.

At this time, Wei Ming spoke: "Since Comrade Guo Kaimin said so, then don't embarrass him. Factory Director Shi, Brother-in-law Zhu, I'll treat this meal, let you run for nothing."

(End of chapter)