Chapter 109: Brave People Enjoy Life First
Any one of the four elements – ‘beautiful,’ ‘rich, with connections, educated, capable’ – when combined, yields unexpected results. Only ‘beautiful’ on its own is a source of pain.
Zhang Tian’ai, graceful, fair-skinned, and youthful before Shen Qing, is a typical example of such a girl. She came from a small city in Heilongjiang, with no money, no connections, no education, and ordinary abilities, perfectly fitting the above criteria.
If she had no ambition, it would be fine; she could find a good man with a house, a car, and a stable job to marry.
But her ambition is not small.
Her pursuit and declaration of her feelings clearly show this.
Shen Qing looked at her fervent gaze and slightly trembling shoulders, then suddenly smiled, turned, and said, “Okay, I know your feelings. You should go back to work first.”
Zhang Tian’ai swallowed.
She seemed to understand Shen Qing’s meaning but dared not be completely sure, and asked, “Teacher Shen Qing, can I… come find you? I can… do anything for you.”
“You are very brave,” Shen Qing stopped, turned, and once again appraised Zhang Tian’ai’s delicate figure. “When I need you, I will naturally seek you out.”
In an instant.
A great sense of happiness enveloped Zhang Tian’ai.
Shen Qing’s words were like celestial music, echoing around her. She suddenly felt that the path ahead was bright, and the dark clouds that had once loomed over her had vanished without a trace.
“When I need you, I will naturally seek you out… Shen Qing’s way of speaking is so assertive… He said he would seek me out when he needs me, does he mean in that way?”
“Talented men are indeed different! He’s a million times better than those greasy, stinky men…”
It wasn’t until Shen Qing’s back disappeared that Zhang Tian’ai snapped back to reality. Her mindset on the way back was completely different from when she had chased after him.
“Tian’ai, why are you smiling so happily? Did something good happen?”
“Ah, no! I just thought of something happy. My dog, Huang, at home had puppies.”
…
The next day.
Zhang Tian’ai arrived at the film crew again. Zhang Yimou called her over, “Hey, you, come here. Your name is Zhang Tian’ai?”
Zhang Tian’ai was stunned, then excitedly nodded, “Yes, Director Zhang, I am Zhang Tian’ai.”
Laomouzi looked her up and down and thought she was quite good. He secretly thought, “She’s indeed good-looking, with a bit of Gong Li’s spirit. Shen Qing’s taste isn’t bad…”
Then he said to the assistant director, “Have her be Gong Li’s lighting stand-in, and give her a few scenes as a female servant.”
“Okay, I’ll arrange it right away.”
Assistant Director Liu Guonan was a little surprised.
But he was also used to it. With a blank expression, he turned and said, “Zhang Tian’ai, follow me.”
Zhang Tian’ai’s mood was happier than winning the lottery; she felt as if her feet were floating, and her whole body was invigorated.
When they reached the side, Zhang Tian’ai could barely suppress her smile. She bowed slightly with excitement, “Thank you, Director Liu, thank you for the opportunity!”
“If you want to thank someone, thank Director Yimou. Perform well later, don’t have too many NG takes, or Director Yimou will be unhappy.”
“Mhm, I will work hard…”
Liu Guonan had seen many pretty girls like this, who suddenly went from being unknown to being appreciated by a great director.
He wasn’t surprised now.
He was just curious, who had taken a liking to Zhang Tian’ai?
Zhang Yimou?
Or some investor?
Liu Guonan licked his lips!
Fortunately, this movie didn’t have supporting roles; otherwise, Liu Guonan wouldn’t dare imagine how many female servants would be knocking on his door in the middle of the night…
“What a shame, the entire movie has named characters. If there were a few small supporting roles with dialogue, that would be great…”
…
“What? Tian’ai, you’ve become Gong Li’s lighting stand-in? And you’ve even got scenes in front of the camera, heavens, I’m so envious!”
“You slutty Tian’ai, tell us, did you hook up with the director?”
“Tian’ai is good-looking! If I were a director, I’d like her too. Sigh, the entertainment circle is like this; good-looking women will definitely attract the attention of big shots.”
“Tian’ai, I have an orange for you. Don’t forget your sisters when you become famous!”
“…”
Zhang Tian’ai had only experienced such flattery from her peers in middle school, when classmates all praised her beauty.
She hadn’t heard it for a long time since she came to BJ to make a living.
Now, she just felt great.
Once a person experiences this feeling, they never want to lose it and will only try to maintain it by any means necessary.
Zhang Tian’ai’s gaze gradually firmed. Thinking of Shen Qing’s gaze, which held no lust, she felt a pang of guilt at that moment.
In the past, the lecherous gazes of those greasy directors and casting agents had always annoyed her; she hated it.
But now, when she was truly ready to go all out, she met a boy with an extremely clear and calm gaze, devoid of any desire for beauty.
For a moment, Zhang Tian’ai felt flustered. She wasn’t sure if Shen Qing wanted to sleep with her.
This anxiety made her feel very uneasy.
Because she felt she had nothing to exchange with Shen Qing; after all, her entire capital came from her body.
“Shen Qing, thank you!”
“Whether you let me accompany you or not, I thank you for pulling me up.”
“If one day you are willing to sleep with me, I will go to you without hesitation…”
…
Zhang Yimou’s sudden promotion of Zhang Tian’ai was, of course, due to Shen Qing’s request.
He had called Zhang Yimou last night and briefly mentioned Zhang Tian’ai. Laomouzi understood immediately and even made a few suggestive jokes that Shen Qing hadn’t heard before~
He sounded like an expert~
This morning, Laomouzi called Zhang Tian’ai over as soon as he arrived at the set and conducted a brief ‘interview’ with her.
He felt it was quite good, so he gave her the lighting stand-in role and a few speaking parts without dialogue, as a favor to Shen Qing.
Lighting stand-in does not mean ‘nude stand-in,’ but rather ‘light and shadow stand-in.’
Because much of the filming for Curse of the Golden Flower took place indoors, the requirements for light and shadow were very high.
Each time Gong Li was filmed, the best lighting angle had to be chosen.
Gong Huang herself obviously couldn’t stand there to be manipulated by the lighting crew, so a stand-in was found, also called a lighting stand-in.
Only after the lighting was adjusted would Gong Huang film.
This kind of stand-in might not be significant in ordinary small crews…
But it was different in Zhang Yimou’s crew.
If an extra got this opportunity, it would be a brilliant addition to their resume, something they could mention when auditioning in the future.
…
Shen Qing took Zhang Liangying to the recording studio early in the morning. Currently, the lyrics, music, and arrangement for Chrysanthemum Terrace were all done; the only thing left was recording.
He planned to call over the band he collaborated with when recording for Zhang Liangying to finish the background music first, then record a demo with Liangying.
When Jay Chou comes to record in a few days, he would also call Wilber Pan and Zeng Yi, and finish recording My Sky.
Three days later.
The demo cassette tape of Chrysanthemum Terrace was delivered to Zhang Yimou.
During lunch, Laomouzi couldn’t wait to insert the cassette into the radio, wanting to hear the level of the recently popular music genius.
As the tape turned, a melodious, beautiful, and profound cello sound poured out, instantly transporting him into a heavy historical atmosphere, making him exclaim in praise.
“Your tears, fragile yet wounded”
“The pale crescent moon, hooking onto the past”
“The night, too long, has frozen into frost”
“Who is in the attic, with cold despair”
“…”
The tragic and beautiful singing made Laomouzi close his eyes involuntarily, recalling the scenes he had filmed these past few days, fragments flashing rapidly through his mind.
Especially the parts sung by Zhang Liangying, which left him with endless aftertaste.
The movie now had the most fitting background music~
People eating around them who heard Chrysanthemum Terrace had the same feeling, as if the movie was always meant to have this theme song.
Especially as the song progressed, the singing became more and more tragic, making one’s mood feel heavy.
“Chrysanthemum remains, wounds scattered”
“Your smile has turned yellow”
“Flowers fall, hearts break, my thoughts lie quietly”
“The north wind blows, the night is not yet over”
“Your shadow cannot be cut off”
“Leaving me alone on the lake, as a pair”
The last section, the duet between Zhang Liangying and Shen Qing in the demo, was like a pair of ill-fated lovers, deeply moving.
Isn’t this the true portrayal of Curse of the Golden Flower?
At the end of the movie, those who deserved to die and those who didn’t all died, leaving only the emperor, symbolizing supreme power.
Is Laomouzi trying to express that no matter what you do to force others, power remains unshakable!?
Very fitting!
The fact is indeed so.
…
At the same time, Jay Chou led the applause, “Very good, Shen Qing wrote it wonderfully. I definitely couldn’t write such a good melody.”
Zhang Yimou: “You’re too modest. If I asked you to compose, it would surely be no less.”
Jay Chou: “Haha, I even want to include it in my new album Still Fantasy. Director Zhang, you don’t mind, do you?”
Zhang Yimou: “Oh? When will the new album be released?”
Jay Chou: “Around September.”
Laomouzi smiled, “That’s great. Your album will be released before the movie, which can create some buzz for the film. Then, when our movie is released during the Chinese New Year film season, there won’t be a promotional gap in the second half of the year.”
Shen Qing: You two are quite quick to agree, the person who wrote the song hasn’t even nodded yet…
