[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-rising-in-1979":3,"chapter-rising-in-1979-rising-in-1979-chapter-458":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},2261166,4412,"Chapter 458: Laba, Wrap, Hugo Award","rising-in-1979-chapter-458",458,"\u003Cp>Although masterpieces like Qi Baishi’s “Pine and Eagle” were rare among the 9,000-plus paintings and calligraphies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the auction price of 400 million does not mean the market value is stably at 400 million.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But faced with the staggering number of 9,145 pieces, even with a lower average price, a total of 10 billion was still within reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though he didn’t know these modern painters’ works would become so valuable in the future, from the moment Gong Ying saw “Pine and Eagle,” she felt Uncle Jiefang had not lost out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, to make a good impression before Xu Shufen, Zhu Lin and Gong Ying woke up early, but still arrived a step late—she had already prepared breakfast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worried the two girls might feel uncomfortable, Xu Shufen left right after eating and hurried home to talk with her husband.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s no trace of my son’s life in that apartment—he must not have lived there,” Xu Shufen said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Wei nodded: “At least the kid has some sense. Even old masters keep such things hidden. How could a literary man make a public spectacle of it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Shufen had now accepted that her son inherited his grandfather’s traits—her father-in-law had still carried on with Ping’an’s mother while his wife was alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even while both his wife and Ping’an’s mother were still alive, he married Lin Yi in Taiwan; his son’s behavior is truly in the blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Jiefang is honest and a reliable man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Jiefang added: “Last night, I drank a lot with Wenhua and got him to spill the beans. Our son knows how to balance things well—the apartment in Tuanjiehu is for Zhu Lin; the two-court Sihe Academy in Nanluoguxiang is for Gong Ying; Gong Ying also owns an old Western-style house in Shanghai, so another three-court Sihe Academy by Houhai was bought for Zhu Lin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing there were so many houses, Xu Shufen grew anxious: “Oh my, if they get all this, won’t Amin need something too someday?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course,” Old Wei said. “The kid definitely has the money—he can afford it. He just doesn’t have time to pick houses. I know exactly what I need to do next.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Wei: “I’ll help Amin find good, suitable homes. I’ll ride my old 28-inch bicycle around town, collect antique furniture, and keep an eye out for anyone wanting to sell property.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Shufen wanted to say this might be spoiling that brat too much, but if she told him to rein it in, she’d grieve over losing any of these girls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forget it—let them be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve got something to do, but what am I supposed to do?” Xu Shufen sighed. Now that the staff meals at Xintiandi had a steady supply, she no longer needed to cook as the Empress Dowager—she was bored stiff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just cook for me,” he said. “I’ve read my son’s ‘The Tongue of China’—so many dishes I’ve never tried. Make them for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Shufen nodded: “Alright, I’ll study up. My son’s so picky—I wonder which of the three girls can really cook.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, in Chengdu, at Emei Studio’s soundstage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire crew watched Pan Hong, tears streaming, write a final letter, which eventually reached Liu Guo through Emperor Qianlong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This scene takes place in the home of Teacher Zhong and his wife, which has two forms: previously filled with musical elements and a record player, now desolate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With tear-filled eyes, Teacher Zhong’s wife finished the letter and stepped out the door, where a lake lay nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a night exterior scene already shot earlier, so when Pan Hong stepped out, Wei Ming clapped: “Perfect! Perfect! Wrap!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After nearly five months, Wei Ming’s debut feature film was finally wrapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To celebrate, Wei Ming had Feng Xiaogang buy fireworks and set them off at Emei Studio—not on Mount Emei, nor the Himalayas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone involved was thrilled—it had been a joyful shoot, first because the budget was generous, with meat almost every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Director Wei Ming’s skill had won over everyone—he was no amateur. Even Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou, the academy-trained directors, had to bow their heads; most of the stunning shots and scene choreography were handled by Wei Ming himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With filming complete, Wei Ming would stay at Emei Studio for a few more days to review the footage, and while the sets and main actors were still available, he could reshoot any issues promptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, Han Sanping went over the accounts with Wei Ming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Children’s Film Studio invested 200,000 yuan; Wei Ming had spent nearly 400,000 yuan in RMB and HKD, and after post-production, costs would surely exceed 600,000 yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a hefty investment—can the overseas market recoup the 400,000?” he worried for Wei Ming. Though Wei Ming hadn’t said outright, Han Sanping knew him well—if DreamWorks had nothing to do with him, he wouldn’t have spent so lavishly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone who can effortlessly earn foreign exchange and raise 100 to 200 million in Hong Kong donations would naturally have a company abroad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming said: “I’m not sure myself. This film isn’t very commercial—it all depends on whether it wins anything at Cannes. If it gets an award, recouping costs won’t be hard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming was being modest—if Han Sanping knew how much “The Witness,” that ten-minute short, had earned overseas, he wouldn’t have such concerns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four months remain—no one knew how far along Hu Weili in Beijing was with the music.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his final days in Chengdu, besides reviewing footage with Chen Kaige and others, Wei Ming also took time to visit “Science Fiction World” magazine and met Brother Wan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although “District 9” wasn’t first published in “Science Fiction World,” the three “Jurassic Park” novels had revitalized the magazine and made it the leader of domestic sci-fi literature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming’s arrival drew a crowd of editors—all proud of him, because “District 9” was China’s first sci-fi novel with global influence, and even after only half a year in print, it was already revered as a classic by Chinese sci-fi fans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overseas sales of the “Jurassic Park” series were actually higher, but in the hearts of the Chinese public, they didn’t inspire the same pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only “District 9,” with its political undertones, depth, and layered meaning, could cement Wei Ming’s status as a “sci-fi god.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This prestige could be reinforced not only through critical essays but also through awards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Wei Ming made a suggestion: “When I returned to Beijing to receive the Mao Dun Literature Prize, I thought—pure literature has the Mao Dun Prize, children’s literature has the National Outstanding Children’s Literature Award, I even heard ‘Story Weekly’ plans to give an annual ‘Reader’s Favorite Story’ award. But sci-fi literature seems to lack any authoritative recognition.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming’s words woke the editors from their slumber. The editor-in-chief and deputy editor immediately conceived the bold idea of creating such an award and asked Wei Ming to name it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming thought for a moment: “In international sci-fi, the Hugo Award and Nebula Award are the top honors—one honors a person, the other looks toward the stars.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The editor-in-chief said: “Among Chinese sci-fi writers, Mr. Zheng Wenguang stands supreme—‘From Earth to Mars’ and ‘Flying to Centaurus’ influenced two generations and were, before you, the most internationally renowned Chinese sci-fi authors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The deputy editor said: “Naming it after Mr. Zheng might not be wise—he’s too prominent; it could bring him trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The editor-in-chief nodded—it was indeed inappropriate, it might elevate him too high. He looked at Wei Ming: “Perhaps you could suggest a name, Teacher Wei.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming first demurred, then reluctantly proposed “Galaxy Award.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The universe is vast—we can start with the galaxy,” Wei Ming said. “Of course, this is just my personal suggestion—perhaps you have better options.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet everyone unanimously agreed “Galaxy Award” was excellent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, Wei Ming’s suggestion to create an award at “Science Fiction World” was inspired by Melinda.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a recent letter from Britain, she told Wei Ming she had applied for “District 9” and “Jurassic Park” for the Hugo and Nebula Awards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jurassic Park” had applied once last year and didn’t make the shortlist; this time, with the third installment, Melinda thought the Nebula might be a stretch, but the Hugo might have a chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the Hugo and Nebula Awards are both top-tier international sci-fi honors, known as the twin stars, they differ slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simply put, the Hugo is a readers’ award—winning works are more readable and influential, better representing sci-fi fan culture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Nebula is a judges’ award—emphasizing literary merit and professionalism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming’s two sci-fi works, in literary quality, still couldn’t match native English authors—at least not yet; his English writing needed more practice, ideally immersion in that linguistic environment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the scientific concepts in these works offered no groundbreaking innovation, but their global impact was explosive—so they might fare better in the Hugo, voted on by World Science Fiction Society members.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hugo Award is now in its nomination phase; to ensure safety, Melinda will maneuver to get “District 9” onto the list.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The World Science Fiction Society allows anyone to become a member—and gain nomination and voting rights—by paying a few dozen dollars in dues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>London.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the company, Melinda was reviewing the illustrations for “Night at the Museum,” Wei Ming’s new work and the most anticipated since the company’s founding.\u003C\u002Fp>",1559,"2026-06-19T16:30:59.356Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","30c5a79ba8395083d7b0d42ca2cc9452391d11dd3a783611ffd2bc889c05be8e","rising-in-1979-chapter-459","rising-in-1979-chapter-457",509,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frising-in-1979-cover.jpg"]