Back to 80: My Literary Life

Zhang Yimou perked up when he heard this: "Editor Fang, did you write it?"

"No, it's an author named Mo Yan." Fang Minghua explained: "The name of the novel is "Red Sorghum". I submitted it to our magazine and I haven't had time to publish it yet. I think it's suitable for you to shoot."

"Okay, I'll go to your unit tomorrow and read this novel first."

"No problem, just come to me directly."

"Hey, hey, wait." Wu Tianmin suddenly interrupted: "Yimou, don't forget, please promise me to be the photographer for the new film "Old Well"!"

"Director Wu, how could I forget? I will follow Editor Fang to read the novel tomorrow. If it's suitable, I can grab the copyright first. After I finish making your movie, I'll start planning for it, okay?"

"That's pretty much it!" Wu Tianmin nodded with satisfaction and raised his glass: "Come on, come on, drink!"

The three of them had another drink.

After drinking, Wu Tianmin took a bite of food and suddenly sighed again.

"Director Wu, what's wrong?" Zhang Yimou asked quickly, and Fang Minghua also looked at him.

"Hey, it's not because I want to make this movie. Minghua, you don't know, I haven't even found the leading actor for this movie yet!"

Zhang Yimou nodded after hearing this, it was true, but it was none of his business, he was just a photographer.

But Fang Minghua almost laughed after hearing this.

Protagonist?

Isn't the man in front of me, who looks a bit naive but is actually extremely shrewd, the male protagonist of "Old Well"?

They get the prize directly.

Fang Minghua pretended to be curious and asked Wu Tianmin about the content of "Old Well".

"Old Well" is adapted from the novel of the same name by writer Zheng Yi, who is a member of the Jin Provincial Writers Association and the editor of the magazine "Yellow River".

"Yellow River" can barely be regarded as a second-rate magazine in this era, but the editor-in-chief at the time, Shan Quan, was very discerning. When no one wanted to publish the third volume of "Ordinary World" written by Lu Yao, he took the initiative to find Lu Yao in Xijing. , many readers who published his novel remembered "Yellow River".

After Fang Minghua came to this era, he read "Old Well" written by Zheng Yi. After Wu Tianmin finished speaking, Fang Minghua pointed at Zhang Yimou and said, "Brother Angkor, I think director Zhang is quite suitable."

Zhang Yimou was confused: "Editor Fang, I have never studied acting."

Wu Tianmin didn't say anything. He looked at Zhang Yimou with his drunken eyes. The more he looked at him, the more he felt that what Fang Minghua said was reasonable.

With his naive appearance and stubborn personality, isn't this the male protagonist Sun Wangquan in "Old Well"? !

Why don't I usually pay attention?

Is it because of drinking today?

So he said: "Minghua is right, I can just watch you. Besides, I still know you. You have three conditions to take on this role. First, you are a film school graduate who understands art. Second, you went to the countryside at the age of 15. , have a good understanding of rural areas. Third, you want to be the best in everything and can work hard."

When it came to the end, Wu Tianmin was holding a wine glass in one hand and resting his hand on Zhang Yimou's arm. He said with a serious look: "Yimou, man, no one is born to act, but some people are born to be the protagonist."

Zhang Yimou was so frightened that he quickly pushed Wu's hand away: "Brother, can you stop being so sensational?"

"I don't care, it's you! If you are willing to play the leading role in this movie, I will give you a house with three bedrooms and one living room!" Wu Tianmin became more proud.

"Really?" Zhang Yimou's eyes lit up.

house?

This is what I dream of. With a house, I no longer have to rely on others.

"Yimou, when have I ever failed to keep my word? I just want this movie to win an award!"

It's a bit difficult

But for the sake of the house, I risked my life!

In the end, all three of them returned to the hotel drunk.

Shortly after Fang Minghua went to work the next day, Zhang Yimou came.

Although he has agreed to play the male lead in Wu Tianmin's movie, he still thinks about his own movie.

Fang Minghua called him in, poured Zhang Yimou a cup of tea, and then handed him the manuscript in the drawer.

Zhang Yimou watched carefully.

"Red Sorghum" is quite long, nearly 130,000 words, almost reaching the word count of a novel. Zhang Yimou sat in the office and watched it carefully. Fang Minghua paid no attention to it and was busy with his own business.

When it was almost time to get off work, Zhang Yimou raised his head and said: "Editor Fang, I have decided to make this novel into a movie."

Fang Minghua was not surprised by Zhang Yimou's idea, so he told the author Mo Yan about the situation.

"He has now graduated from the People's Liberation Army Art Institute and works in the Ministry of General Affairs and Culture. I can give you his address. You need to contact him personally."

"But, I don't know Mo Yan, I'm worried." Zhang Yimou hesitated.

"I can write him a letter and talk about your situation, and I think he will agree."

"That's great." Zhang Yimou was overjoyed when he heard this.

"It's dinner time now. Let's go to our unit canteen for dinner." Fang Minghua stood up.

"No, no, no." Zhang Yimou declined and said with a smile, "You are busy with your business. I know that you are not eating in your workplace canteen at noon now. You have to accompany your wife home to eat every day."

"You know all this?" Fang Minghua was stunned after hearing this.

"Haha, I also heard that your wife is pregnant with twins. She is so envious of me. Editor-in-chief Fang will organize a full-moon banquet, so don't forget me."

"sure."

After seeing off Zhang Yimou, Fang Minghua walked out of the unit gate and saw a white Mazda parked across the road.

Fang Minghua crossed the road and got into the car. Song Tangtang was already sitting in the passenger seat.

"Minghua, is that man with a crew cut and a figure like a terracotta warrior who went by just now Zhang Yimou?" Song Tangtang asked.

Look like terracotta warriors and horses?

Fang Minghua laughed dumbly.

Don't tell me, they look alike.

When Zhang Yimou starred in "The Love of Qin Warriors in Ancient and Modern Times" directed by Xiangjiang actor Cheng Xiaodong, the character Meng Tianfang played looked like a Qin Dynasty soldier.

It looks more like General Qin than Jackie Chan.

Now hearing what Song Tangtang said, Fang Minghua started the car and said with a smile: "Yes, it's Zhang Yimou. Did he greet you?"

"Yeah, but so is this guy. He doesn't even introduce himself to me. Is he looking for you?"

"Yes." Fang Minghua briefly explained Zhang Yimou's desire to film "Red Sorghum".

"Minghua, it seems that you are very optimistic about this Zhang Yimou."

"That is and will be a master-level director in the future."

Fang Minghua wrote a letter to Mo Yan in the evening, explaining the situation in detail. Of course, he praised Zhang Yimou a lot and hoped that you would let him adapt your novel.

After the letter was sent, Fang Minghua stopped worrying. He believed that Mo Yan would hand over the film adaptation rights of the novel to Zhang Yimou.

As for this novel, Fang Minghua decided to launch it in two installments in the editorial column of "Yanhe" in October and November.

Time passed quickly, and it was already the golden month of October. During this period, apart from work, Fang Minghua basically spent time at home after work, hanging out with his wife, making her happy, and coding to write "Knife in the Snow" 》.

Luo Bin from Xiangjiang made long-distance calls to Fang Minghua from time to time to check on his wife. When he heard that his wife was pregnant, he even sent Eu Yan Sang bird's nests produced in Xiangjiang.

In fact, Fang Minghua knew that he was urging the manuscript in disguise.

Fortunately, after crazy coding in the past two months, the number has reached almost 300,000, which can be handed over to Zhao Hongjun to publish the first volume in the mainland.

Song Tangtang's belly was getting bigger and bigger, which was particularly eye-catching because she was pregnant with two children. Walking with her every night, except on rainy days, had become an unshakable thing for him.

Sometimes Jia Pingwa asked him to drink, but he refused righteously: "I won't go, I want to go for a walk with my wife."

As for things like business trips and meetings, you can retreat and hide whenever you can: "It's okay to have meetings, but you can't stay out overnight. Come home as soon as you're done eating."

What he didn't expect was that the National Writers Association called him again and asked him to go to Xiangjiang again on behalf of the Chinese Writers Association.

Because, the Xiangjiang Writers Association was officially established.