Chapter 132: Another Young Person in the Film Industry, The Pressure is on Me
“This is the first red flag of New China; it cannot be wrong.”
“No one sent the materials, and there’s nothing I can do.”
……
We can’t gamble!
We must ensure it’s foolproof.
The only way now is to find a new ‘blocking ball’.
But Liang Changshou （ Huang Xiaoming ） had been shouting for a while, and no one brought the ‘vacuum tube radio’…
The camera pulled back, giving a panoramic view of the crowd in the courtyard; everyone was dejected.
Just then, the background music shifted from sad to hopeful, and the audience seemed to sense what was about to happen.
The camera slowly pushed to the railing. In the courtyard, an old man tremblingly brought over a copper pipe for a tobacco pouch…
Liang Changshou excitedly climbed over the railing and went to the old man, took the tobacco pipe, examined it carefully, and then said sincerely, “Sir, this is copper; we can’t use it.”
Du Xinghan （ Wang Qianyuan ） walked out from behind Liang Changshou. His gaze swept past the two of them and looked towards the courtyard entrance.
The camera followed him all the way forward, revealing a scene that was incredibly moving: citizens of Beijing brought all sorts of items, and the courtyard and alleys were filled with enthusiastic people…
“Comrade, is this the ceremony preparation office?”
“Uncle, look, can this be used?”
“Comrade, where should these donations be taken?”
“Comrade, I am a professor from the Chemistry Department of Tsinghua University. This is the only piece of chromium left in our laboratory.”
“……”
Du Xinghan walked into the alley. He had no dialogue, but his reddened eyes and the upturned corners of his mouth conveyed everything the audience needed to know.
Entering the alley, Du Xinghan shouted excitedly, “Everyone, don’t crowd. Walk in slowly.”
……
After collecting the materials, Lin Zhiyuan and Liang Changshou began to make the blocking ball on-site.
At 5:03 AM, the steel ball was made.
At this moment.
Only 53 minutes remained until the final inspection.
Lin Zhiyuan and the others, carrying the blocking ball and welding equipment, got into a vehicle from the disciplinary team and headed straight for the square.
Huang Bo’s voice-over also began.
“There isn’t much time left. The only way is to quickly climb the flagpole and replace the blocking device by welding, to ensure that the national flag, when raised, will not fall regardless of the wind.”
However, due to the blockade, they had to get out of the car two kilometers away from the square.
Lin Zhiyuan ran frantically, carrying the equipment.
“In a few more hours, it will be the Founding Ceremony. Twenty thousand spectators will be watching, forty million compatriots nationwide will be watching, and people all over the world will be watching…”
“At this significant historical moment, despite being extremely careful, a mishap occurred. If there’s a problem when pressing the button, the consequences are unimaginable.”
“It’s impossible. I will never let any problem occur.”
“No matter what, I must ensure the smooth raising of the first national flag of New China!”
In the frame, Lin Zhiyuan passed through the alley, ran into the gatehouse, and entered a wide-open square. The dawn was breaking, and a dark blue sky lay beyond the horizon. A red sun, hidden below the horizon, was gathering its strength, about to rise in the east.
Facing such a scene, everyone in the cinema felt their hearts surge with emotion, their passion ignited, finally turning into thunderous and sustained applause.
“Good!”
“Well filmed.”
“Fantastic…”
All the main creators involved in 《The Eve》 showed smiles from the bottom of their hearts.
They did it!
Feng Xiaogang wiped his eyes, let out a long sigh, and felt a mix of emotions. “A loss in one area can be a gain in another. Perhaps I can do better without Huayi?”
Huang Bo, 32, patted the shoulder of Wang Qianyuan, 34. Both had been in the industry for many years before finally having a breakthrough this year. Wang Qianyuan looked at Huang Bo, and they both burst into laughter.
Huang Xiaoming excitedly grabbed his thigh. “This is so awesome! I really enjoyed this movie. The box office should be over a hundred million!”
Not long after,
Lin Zhiyuan climbed the flagpole and welded the blocking ball. The national flag was successfully raised and lowered.
The inspection passed.
The screen turned black, and a line of text appeared:
【October 1st, 3:00 PM】
The scene shifted. Huang Bo stood on the TAM city wall, and Premier Zhou’s actual voice was heard, “Now, please, Chairman Mao of the Central People’s Government, speak!”
Then, the instructor’s Hunan accent echoed across the square: “Compatriots, the People’s Republic of China, the Central People’s Government, has been established today!”
……
《The Eve》 concludes here. This is a small story focusing on the behind-the-scenes personnel of the Founding Ceremony, depicting the story of a group of ordinary people who made silent contributions amidst the torrent of the era.
Having grown accustomed to grand spectacles with thousands of soldiers, stepping into the world of ordinary people suddenly felt more relatable, and the emotional impact was even more profound.
The great tide of the era rolls forward; who among us is not an ordinary person?
Precisely because of this, including Feng Xiaogang, Huang Bo, Wang Qianyuan, and Huang Xiaoming, none of the main creators doubted the future prospects of this film.
Some media present had already begun writing their news reports by hand.
A Sina reporter wrote: “The main theme of 《The Eve》 moved me. As a grown man, I teared up multiple times… The screenwriter’s brilliant storytelling, the director’s delicate filming techniques, and the actors’ superb performances have collectively created such a classic work as 《My People, My Country》. It is absolutely worth buying a ticket to go to the cinema!”
At this moment, everyone in the hall was applauding.
Feng Xiaogang excitedly called for the actors of 《The Eve》 to stand up. Huang Bo, Huang Xiaoming, and others happily stood up, and together they bowed to the audience and media in the back rows.
The main personnel from other chapters looked on with envy.
Envious of their success.
Shen Qing also stood up and offered them his blessings.
Feng Xiaogang and Shen Qing hugged, and Feng Xiaogang whispered, “Thank you!”
Shen Qing was taken aback and patted the director’s shoulder. “Director Feng, you’re too kind. You filmed it wonderfully.”
Feng Xiaogang felt a warmth spread through him. He rarely experienced such a feeling of being valued with the Wang Brothers. “Damn, they only see me, Old Feng, as a money-making tool…”
Next.
It was time for the second chapter, 《Encounter》.
This time, the pressure was on Li Yang, as well as Zhang Jiayi, Zhang Yi, Gao Yuanyuan, Jing Tian, and others. Fan Xiaopang and Ning Hao next door were also watching expectantly.
……
1:00 PM.
As soon as the premiere banquet ended, major media reporters and film critics rushed back to their companies or homes to write and refine their reviews.
Around 2:00 PM, Sina published the first article.
【In Beijing, just came out of the cinema. I can guarantee that 《My People, My Country》 is the most anticipated film of the year, bar none!】
Curious netizens: “What? It’s that good?”
Instantly.
Fans of Zhang Liangying, Shen Qing, Gao Yuanyuan, Huang Xiaoming, Fan Bingbing, Hu Jun, and others were all forwarding this news.
On platforms like Hupu and Tianya, fans who had attended the premiere were already sharing their post-viewing thoughts.
“I can only describe it as shocking. This is the best movie I’ve seen in a cinema in many years, no exceptions!”
“This is my first time seeing how a movie can be made like this.”
“Shen Qing’s screenwriting is truly amazing.”
“He used the same theme to tell five small stories. Some made my heart surge, some made me cry silently, some made my blood boil, and some made me laugh heartily…”
“I highly recommend everyone to watch it!”
“Tomorrow, Saturday, 《My People, My Country》 will be publicly released at 8:00 PM. I will take my family to watch it.”
Some netizens, half-believing, posted: “You’re praising it so highly, did you get paid?”
Others said: “You’re bragging without a draft. I don’t believe it can be as good as Zhang Yimou’s film with all those attractive people. I’m saving my money to watch 《Curse of the Golden Flower》.”
……
Shen Qing had no mood to rest.
After a 30-minute in-depth discussion about equestrianism with Zhang Liangying, he pulled up his pants and went out—he simply couldn’t sleep. Even though he knew the movie would be a hit, he was still worried.
This feeling was the same as when he released his first album; he was incredibly anxious.
He made a few calls and gathered Huang Bo, Wang Qianyuan, Huang Xiaoming, Chen Liang, Huang Xuan, and Xiao Jingteng, who were in Beijing, and they found a place for a hot pot supper.
As it neared 1:00 AM, they left. Snowflakes were falling in the Beijing sky. They all agreed to go to the apartment Huang Bo had rented near the Fourth Ring Road.
His place had heating and a mahjong table.
They played until 6:00 AM.
Perhaps it was their youth, or perhaps it was the adrenaline, but they weren’t tired at all. Even Wang Qianyuan, at 34, was full of energy.
They then followed Shen Qing to a breakfast shop downstairs for douzhi.
Few people liked it; they just tried it.
Xiao Jingteng took a sip and almost threw up his dinner from the night before.
“Hahaha, the douzhi assault incident!”
“Boss, why are you selling spoiled soy milk to customers?”
“Hey, this is the authentic old Beijing flavor.”
However, Shen Qing, having lived in Beijing for so long, hadn’t seen many locals drink it. Only about half the people liked it, while tourists always ordered it.
As it neared 8:00 AM.
Outside the China Film International Cinema, a row of loafers sat.
Shen Qing, wearing a hat and mask, sat by the cinema entrance. Watching people enter, he couldn’t help but smile hearing them discuss 《My People, My Country》.
Huang Bo: “If I become even more popular, can I become a top-tier star?”
Wang Qianyuan: “Your acting is fine, and the opportunities are great. I’m very optimistic about you.”
Shen Qing: “Stop fantasizing and just focus on acting seriously… Let’s go see what the cinema’s occupancy rate is!”
……
On the other side.
Zhang Yimou woke up early and visited the Olympic Building. Seeing the movie ticket Shen Qing had given him on the desk, he thought for a moment, picked it up, and went out. “Alright, let’s see how you’ve filmed it.”
As he entered the cinema hall, Zhang Yimou was stunned.
The 350-seat hall was packed with an audience, including not only young people but also many elderly people and children.
After watching 《The Eve》, he was already incredibly impressed.
He couldn’t pinpoint why it was so good, but he just enjoyed watching it!
It was a very strange feeling.
After watching the segment 《Encounter》, starring Zhang Yi, Gao Yuanyuan, and Jing Tian, the answer in Zhang Yimou’s mind was about to emerge.
When the two-hour movie ended, Zhang Yimou stared at the credits and suddenly laughed. “A young person has entered the film industry. The pressure is on me now. Can 《Curse of the Golden Flower》 withstand it?”
