[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-that-year-in-huayu":3,"chapter-that-year-in-huayu-that-year-in-huayu-chapter-6":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","That Year in Huayu",{"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},2286842,4473,"Chapter 6: In Berlin","that-year-in-huayu-chapter-6",6,"\u003Cp>Sure enough, a few days later, Lin Nan received a call from Director Li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day, Wang Jing had said that Li Yang had sent the film to Berlin, and the content of this call was exactly about that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yang even asked Lin Nan if he wanted to come over and hang out, saying he could afford to cover the latter's food and lodging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan said he would consider it and call him back, and he took down the contact information for the hotel where Li Yang was staying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan remembered this director's promotional method: clutching self-printed posters and posting them everywhere. During the competition process, his contact information had even been left out of the film festival directory, and he had almost become an \"unregistered person.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this call, Lin Nan specifically reminded him about this matter, and was even scolded by Li Yang for looking down on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan was somewhat tempted; he could go and see the awards ceremony, which should be happening right around the Spring Festival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the travel expenses, he figured his old man would sponsor him for something so showy, as it would give him something to brag about for a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan took some time to go buy a mobile phone, this year's Nokia 7650, spending all the remuneration Director Li Yang had given him and adding another two thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was when he returned to school that his old man saw he had become much darker and thinner, and gave him an extra month's living expenses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was all spent by him on buying the phone; it was the first mobile phone with a built-in digital camera released by Nokia in China.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Lin Nan's view, this phone couldn't compare to those of later generations, but at this point in time, it was a rare item, especially being able to take photos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After getting a SIM card, before Lin Nan could even call his old man, it was taken by Zhu Yawen to play with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lin Nan found him, Old Zhu was taking photos of himself and some girls; he held the back of the phone toward himself and a female classmate and just pressed the button.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still had to check if the angle was right and if the photo had been taken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I said it's fine, you've really gotten addicted to taking pictures,\" Lin Nan complained with annoyance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait a bit longer, Zhou Yang and I are going to take one more,\" Old Zhu completely ignored Lin Nan's urging and waved at Zhou Yang in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several people were having a great time, and in the end, they pulled Lin Nan in too; and don't say, it really did have that kind of atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking these out in the future would all be memorable moments of campus life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Campus life is intoxicating, but students still rush between the school and the outside world, all looking for a way out; many are shooting for magazines, negotiating with film crews, or working as extras.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the country's accession to the World Trade Organization last year, the film and television industry also began to become active.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A professor published a paper: With the further opening of the market, the film and television industry is facing unprecedented opportunities and challenges...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The film and television industry is one of the sectors most impacted, but it should be viewed with a positive and approving attitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan knew that the twenty years of most rapid development were about to begin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In mid-December, \"Hero\" was released, and for a time, the media and newspapers were flooded with news about \"Hero.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first commercial blockbuster by Master Zhang created a box office miracle with an unexpectedly star-studded cast and a rich, colorful visual style.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan and Zhu Yawen went to see it together, accompanied by Zhou Yang and Jiang Yiyan, while other classmates and alumni sat further away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the film began, everyone was stunned by the colors, until the appearance of the several big stars: Nameless, Broken Sword, Flying Snow...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The King of Qin summoned Nameless to recount the process of assassinating the three swordsmen, the highest standard of ten paces from the King of Qin...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grand, majestic, this is a true epic masterpiece,\" Zhu Yawen muttered incessantly beside Lin Nan, and the cinema was filled with praise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A group of film academy students were all dumbfounded, fantasizing about if they were so-and-so in the film.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving the cinema, Lin Nan's ears still couldn't find peace; \"I also want to shoot a film for Director Zhang,\" Jiang Yiyan and Zhou Yang chattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Linzi, why haven't you said anything?\" Zhu Yawen asked, one arm draped over Lin Nan's shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan glanced at him, \"What can I say? Holy crap, it's shot so damn well!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at \"Hero\" with the eyes of the future, it is an epoch-making masterpiece that pioneered domestic large-scale productions; no matter how you look at it, it is a success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the news from the media was not like that; film critics and some ordinary audiences were simply tearing it apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They said it was too mystical, too fantasy-oriented, too pretentious, and overly serious, telling a story in three layers only to eventually excuse a dictatorial tyrant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lin Nan heard Zhu Yawen talking about this, he even cursed a few times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What's wrong with the First Emperor? Without the First Emperor, where would the great unification come from?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lin Nan was also helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, the First Emperor was still a tyrant to be despised, Zhu Yuanzhang still had a shoe-shaped face, and the Great Ming was still only known for the bad reputation of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the contrary, \"Yongzheng Dynasty\" and \"Kangxi Dynasty\" let ordinary people see the stories of the Great Qing, which were so \"good\"!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don't know why, but foreigners rated \"Hero\" very highly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A month passed, and the domestic box office reached 200 million, with the global box office reaching 150 million US dollars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the disclosure of this data, the mockery finally subsided a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the film and television circle was ignited, especially the China Film Group, as well as various film companies and the big directors who were green with envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan went home for winter break and received a call from Li Yang a few days ago, inviting him to Berlin again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time Lin Nan readily accepted; the travel expenses were sponsored by his old man, and he publicized it until all the neighbors knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan only then realized that his phone could have paid for a round trip to Berlin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the end of January, Lin Nan boarded a plane from the capital to Berlin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On February 1st, Lin Nan arrived in Berlin, and Li Yang picked him up at the airport in person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Director, why did you come yourself?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan was very moved, but Li Yang said, \"Hiring someone to pick you up costs money.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan was speechless for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just kidding. Let's go, let's try the sausages here; I used to work in Germany, so I'm very familiar with this place,\" he said, taking Lin Nan into a Mercedes-Benz.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver had a Chinese face, and Li Yang and Lin Nan sat in the back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have some acquaintances in the circle here who tell me the chances of winning an award are not small, but we should still keep a normal mindset; the main thing is to sell it, winning an award is just a bonus,\" Li Yang said nonchalantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lin Nan could tell he was still quite concerned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are also an investor and a student at the film academy; coming here to see the world is definitely not a loss. The 'Hero' crew has also arrived; they are much more impressive than our ragtag team, they came by chartered plane,\" Li Yang said, sounding a bit bitter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But judging from the preferences of the Berlin Film Festival, Director Zhang's 'Hero' might not necessarily be favored more than your 'Blind Shaft,' don't you think?\" Lin Nan smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yang then examined Lin Nan, \"I didn't expect you to see so far; those students in school might not necessarily have as broad a perspective as you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Domestic cinema once faced a choice: to learn from Hollywood or to move closer to Europe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, they chose the latter. And as the three major European film festivals, they each have their own preferences: art, commerce, and complex realistic themes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back at the hotel, Lin Nan, Li Yang, and a few others had a meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are over 1,500 types of German sausages; you could eat three types a day for nearly two years without repeating, and Lin Nan enjoyed a sausage feast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On February 6th, the film festival officially began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Films from all over the world gathered here; except for the few competing for awards, most of the films were there for trade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Buyers and sellers were all searching for each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yang told Lin Nan that he had already found several potential buyers, and the price was still being negotiated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Try to stall until the awards ceremony is over,\" this was Lin Nan's advice to Li Yang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The latter understood; this was the way to maximize profits once an award was won.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the days passed, the competing films were categorized for viewing and scoring, until the final moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This day was highly anticipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Zhang's \"Hero\" won the Alfred Bauer Silver Bear Award, which was far from expectations; this was just an award established to recognize new perspectives in film art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Li Yang, in his dual capacity as director and screenwriter, won the Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution; this was a real award, not a consolation prize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan didn't pay attention to the most important Golden Bear, the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize, or the Silver Bear for Best Director that followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He only remembered the excited Li Yang hugging him before going up to receive the award; he didn't hear clearly whether he spoke in German or English, he just heard him shout \"Lin Nan\" in Chinese, and he miraculously responded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone around looked at him, and Li Yang held up the trophy toward Lin Nan from above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time, so many strangers were staring at him, smiling and applauding, and Lin Nan subconsciously clapped along; for a moment, the atmosphere at the scene became even more intense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they returned to the hotel, everyone was joyful, \"Believe that by tomorrow, domestic newspapers and media will report on this film festival. Director Li, you have really outdone Director Zhang.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan congratulated Li Yang; he was preparing to return to the country, as the fifteenth day of the first lunar month had passed and school was about to start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have to stay for a few more days to try and sell it for a good price. Before, I was going to accept all overseas investment, but it was your 100,000 that made me decide to sell my house to make up the rest. Now that we've won an award, we must earn back everything we're owed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yang was in a very good mood; winning an award meant profit, and definitely a significant amount.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll wait for your good news at school.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just wait, haha.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The plane landed in the capital, and Lin Nan walked out carrying his suitcase alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master, Film Academy,\" he hailed a taxi and headed straight for the school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned on his phone, and sure enough, there were several missed calls: from Zhu Yawen, Zhou Yang, his old man, and even a few strange numbers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arriving at school, the atmosphere was much better; it was all young people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>School had been open for two days, but fortunately, Lin Nan had called ahead to ask for leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Returning to the dormitory, he ran into Zhu Yawen before he could even enter the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Linzi, you dog, you really went over there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yawen punched him, \"You're famous now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What happened?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan asked, knowing the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Xinhua News has already reported it; your 'Blind Shaft' won a Silver Bear, the director even thanked you on stage, and there's even that photo of you looking all dumbfounded.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan was speechless; at the time, the scene was just too big and his brain was a bit blank, so he got snapped?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking the newspaper Zhu Yawen threw at him, Lin Nan felt relieved; he didn't look dumbfounded, just expressionless.\u003C\u002Fp>",2111,"2026-06-20T03:22:09.099Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","c596f96935bd195c01ec2aac5f93b1ea9f99b219bca76834500d4e26d53b67aa","that-year-in-huayu-chapter-7","that-year-in-huayu-chapter-5",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-in-huayu-cover.jpg"]