Chapter 520: Completely Unable to Get a Word In

I don't watch TV dramas or movies much.

Wan Zhiyuan answered very bluntly.

He is obsessed with chemical battery research; where would he have time to watch TV dramas and movies?

"I did specialize in researching film art for a period of time, and I've seen quite a few classic old films."

Wen Lingyun said so.

Wei Qian then said:

"What a coincidence, I also researched film art before; my mom forced me to study it, saying something about improving my artistic aesthetic. You know, you have to understand cinematic language when watching movies; if you only watch the plot, then watching it is equivalent to watching it for nothing."

"What is cinematic language?"

Zhao Xinyi was a bit confused.

She had always only watched the plot.

"For example, there are many cinematic languages in 'Chongqing Forest'; through shaky camerawork, following the protagonist running into the building called Chongqing Forest, showing the clutter inside, it's very emotional and very artistic."

Wei Qian gave such an example.

Zhao Xinyi didn't know what to say for a while.

She knew 'Chongqing Forest' was a film directed by Wong Kar-wai, and also knew it was a very classic art film, but to be honest, she really couldn't stand watching it, always feeling the film was incomprehensible.

Wen Lingyun chimed in at this time:

"Yes, the cinematography of 'Chongqing Forest' is very clever, many emotions are inside the lens, so it's reasonable that people won so many awards. However, I think the most amazing cinematic language is still Stephen Chow's 'Kung Fu Hustle'; the long shots inside showing the environment and life of Pigsty Walled City are truly invincible, even filming someone taking a dump inside the house, haha, full of nonsense but with very high artistic value!"

Zhao Xinyi hurriedly said:

"I've seen 'Kung Fu Hustle', it's indeed very funny and very good."

She could finally chat a few sentences about this movie.

After all, it's a drama, and many people have seen it.

Wen Lingyun however said:

"If you only see comedy in 'Kung Fu Hustle', then it's like only seeing Fang Hongjian's ridiculousness in 'Fortress Besieged'; it's definitely not enough. The core of comedy is tragedy; 'Kung Fu Hustle' shows many deep things, worth repeatedly watching and pondering. I think it's more classic than 'A Chinese Odyssey'."

"Uh, what movie is 'Fortress Besieged'?" Zhao Xinyi said with an embarrassed laugh.

"'Fortress Besieged' is a novel written by Mr. Qian Zhongshu; it seems it was also adapted into a TV drama or movie, but I think the filmed effect is somewhat lacking compared to the original."

Wei Qian said so.

Wen Lingyun then got more and more enthusiastic:

"Speaking of Mr. Qian Zhongshu, 'Fortress Besieged' is just a drop in the bucket for him. This great scholar's academic research is formidable. Not to mention his magnum opus 'Guan Bian', nor his annotated contributions to traditional classical poetry in 'Discussions on Art Records', just his mastery of nine foreign languages and his erudition spanning Chinese and Western learning is enough for us to look up to!"

Wei Qian hurriedly chimed in: "Right right right, he is my only idol in literature and art. It's just a pity I wasn't born a bit earlier; otherwise I would definitely go visit him in person."

Zhao Xinyi couldn't get a word in at all. She felt that among them, she was like an illiterate fool.

Wen Lingyun said at this time:

"My home collects several manuscripts of Mr. Qian Zhongshu that have never circulated on the market. How about you find some time to come to my home, and we study them together!"

Wei Qian excitedly said:

"Good good, how about we go tomorrow?"

Wen Lingyun however said:

"Didn't you say tomorrow you have to accompany your girlfriend to climb the Great Wall?"

Wei Qian however said:

"We can climb the Great Wall another day. I'll bring Yun Shu to your home together. You don't know, Yun Shu is very fascinated by literary research; she plans to minor in literary appreciation. If she knows your home has Mr. Qian's manuscripts and I don't bring her to your home to feast her eyes, she will definitely curse me out!"

Wen Lingyun laughed out loud:

"Haha, alright then. Tomorrow I'll bring you two to my home. Zhiyuan, Xiao Hua, do you two want to come together?"

"I'm not going; I still have to do experiments." Wan Zhiyuan immediately refused.

Wang Xiaohua also politely declined:

"I'm not going either; I still have to take my parents around to look around."

Zhao Xinyi was full of surprise, and felt lost inside:

"Classmate Wei, you have a girlfriend?"

Wei Qian openly admitted:

"Yes, she's also from our college..."

Just at this time, Yun Shu walked into the cafeteria.

"Speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives!" Seeing Yun Shu, Wei Qian hurriedly stood up and waved:

"Yun Shu, over here!"

Zhao Xinyi turned back to look.

Only saw a girl dressed simply, carrying a backpack, holding several thick books walking in.

Although she had no makeup on, her appearance was still beautiful, beautiful yet not losing dignity and elegance, exuding an unconventional temperament from inside out.

Zhao Xinyi only saw her for a glance, and knew she had been thoroughly outshone.

She had no education, no wisdom; the only thing she could take out was her beauty, but in front of Yun Shu, it paled in comparison.

So the moment she saw Yun Shu, she knew her plan to pursue Wei Front was probably going to fail.

Wei Qian was already taken, and she absolutely could not compete with Yun Shu.

So now she could only settle for second best, see if she could snag Wen Lingyun.

"What a coincidence, you're all here!"

Yun Shu smiled and walked over.

"Xiao Hua's parents came, so we came here to have a meal with them!"

Wei Qian hurriedly stood up to greet Yun Shu, while Wen Lingyun tactfully shifted over on one side, making room for Wei Qian and Yun Shu to sit together.

"Uncle, Auntie, it's rare for you to come to Beijing City; I wish you a happy National Day!"

Yun Shu smiled and offered her greetings.

Li Xiulan nodded with a smile.

Wang Zhanggen was full of envy on his face.

He turned around and scolded Wang Xiaohua:

"Look at Wei Qian, a dormmate of yours, has already found a partner, and she's so beautiful and well-mannered; why haven't you wised up yet?"

This sudden remark from Wang Zhanggen left everyone present extremely embarrassed.

Wang Xiaohua was quite speechless, but he still endured it and didn't retort directly, after all there were so many people present, he couldn't let this old man lose face.

The others were tactful, pretending not to hear what Wang Zhanggen said.

Wei Qian asked Yun Shu:

"Yun Shu, Wen Lingyun said his family has collected the manuscripts of Mr. Qian Zhongshu; how about we go to his house together tomorrow to take a look?"

"Sure, sure!" Yun Shu was immediately excited beyond measure, "I was just planning to do an academic research on Mr. Qian!"

Actually Wang Xiaohua also wanted to tag along to broaden his horizons, but since his parents had finally come once, he had to take them out for a stroll, so he could only visit Wen Lingyun's home next time.

Among the four of them in the dorm, it seemed only Wan Zhiyuan, the youngest genius, had no interest in literature at all; Wei Qian and Wen Lingyun both had high literary attainments and had read many classic masterpieces.

Wang Xiaohua was actually quite interested in literature, because he felt that although literature was illusory and ethereal, it was a kind of spiritual nourishment, an indispensable part of the upward development of human civilization.

It was just that previously the resources he could access were very limited; apart from being able to read some famous works circulating in the market, he couldn't access specialized monographs, reports, or literary research.

Now that he had entered Tsinghua University, this situation had improved a great deal; the books in Tsinghua's literary library were said to be as numerous as oxen filling the halls, and many books that couldn't be bought outside could be found here.

At this moment Zhao Xinyi suddenly took the initiative to make a request:

"May I go with you tomorrow? To be honest, I'm also quite interested in literature..."

Zhao Xinyi could be said to have mustered up her courage.

In order to draw closer to Wen Lingyun, she went all out.

Wen Lingyun was stunned:

"Aren't you going to tour Beijing City with Xiao Hua and the others tomorrow?"

Zhao Xinyi begged with a face full of humility:

"I still want to go see Mr. Qian Zhongshu's manuscripts, is that okay?"

Wen Lingyun was quite generous about it; anyway it was just a look, and nothing would be lost.

"Alright, then you can come along tomorrow too!"

Having received Wen Lingyun's permission, Zhao Xinyi was overjoyed immediately, the smile on her face almost blooming into flowers.

"Thank you, Classmate Wen, you're really kind!"

She was excited beyond measure in her heart.

Did Wen Lingyun agreeing to let her go to his home mean that Wen Lingyun also had a bit of good impression of her?