Chapter 6

"我跟他说过，等有一天他结婚了，送他六斤钱。"

Xiao Wu and Xiao Yong had once roamed the capital together, stealing together, and their brotherhood was deep. Later, Xiao Yong made a fortune smuggling cigarettes and became a well-known entrepreneur, but he was afraid people would know he used to be a thief, so he didn't even invite Xiao Wu to his wedding.

But Xiao Wu still went, bringing his gift money—money he had stolen on the street. Faced with Xiao Yong's hesitation, even saying the money was dirty, this made him feel the friendship had vanished.

"You really have changed!"

Chu Qing sat alone, drinking gloomily, with an old wine cup and a plate of fried peanuts. The TV in the restaurant was showing an interview with Xiao Yong by the county TV station, and a popular song "Heart Rain" played by his friend from the grain bureau for his new marriage.

He lit a cigarette and fiddled with the high-end lighter he had taken from Xiao Yong's house.

"Good! Going!"

Jia Zhangke shouted, clapping his hands twice.

The shooting had gone smoothly for three days. The actors, scenes, cinematography, and scheduling were all unexpectedly smooth.

He decided to set the story background in his hometown, which was a wise choice. In Fenyang, making movies is called "playing" movies, and to them, movies are a very fun game.

The locals were very willing to help the crew "play" movies, and Chu Qing could clearly feel the locals' enthusiasm. Jia Zhangke also received a lot of help from his old friends.

What he felt most guilty about was that he arranged for the collective dormitory of the nightclub girls to be in a high school classmate's new house, and even had to lower the wall a bit.

This made him feel guilty for a long time. The reason he chose that place was because the visual relationship between the house and the outside road was very interesting.

The entire film had only a few night scenes, so after the daytime shooting schedule was completed, everyone was free to do as they pleased at night.

Fenyang is a small place, and the most fashionable girls still wore clothes that were popular in the capital five years ago. The most luxurious buildings were those with white tiles on the walls, and there were many vehicles, but few with four wheels.

On the second night after arriving, Jia Zhangke took Chu Qing and the others to see a place that was supposedly Fenyang's new economic growth point: a small street a few hundred meters long, with two-story buildings on both sides, and various names hanging on the doors that had nothing to do with this county town, such as "Vienna" and "Night Jasmine"...

There were also some fashionably dressed girls with Sichuan or Northeastern accents walking around on the street.

These scenes made everyone misunderstand, and they all looked at Old Jia with strange eyes.

Thinking to themselves, "You look so proper, but you're actually so dirty!"

So, after Jia Director's defense failed, he let everyone do as they pleased, saying, "Do whatever you want, I don't care, to avoid trouble."

Chu Qing didn't like to play around. At night, he basically stayed in his room watching TV or chatting with Yu Liwei.

However, he had become obsessed with a local dish, shrimp sauce stir-fried tofu. After eating dinner with everyone, he would go out to a small restaurant to satisfy his craving.

Today's scene was very important, but it started to be overcast in the morning, and by noon, it started to drizzle.

The rain wasn't heavy, but it was annoying. The shooting definitely couldn't continue, and Jia Zhangke announced a day off with a gloomy face.

For a low-budget film, every extra shot meant more film and every extra day meant more money, which they couldn't afford.

The rain lasted all day and stopped by evening.

The air outside was damp, and this small, poorly equipped hotel was prone to moisture. Fortunately, Chu Qing had anticipated this and got some quicklime from outside, distributing it to each room.

He felt the bedding; it was still okay, a bit cool but dry enough to sleep on. He felt relieved; in such a place, there was no way to change the bedding.

"Qingzi, thanks to you, otherwise we would have gotten sick," Yu Liwei said, lying on the bed and chatting with Chu Qing.

His Mandarin wasn't standard, and Chu Qing had to think for a moment before responding.

"Used to living in a mud house," Chu Qing laughed, flipping through the channels and finally stopping at a TV series "Bao Qingtian."

This was the TV series he was most obsessed with in his youth, especially the bright red costume of He Jiakin, which was dazzling. In his mind, it was the epitome of a perfect hero.

Yu Liwei also glanced at it and said, "Oh? 'Bao Qingtian'? I like it too. This is the Taiwanese version, the Hong Kong version is also good."

Chu Qing was surprised, "Hong Kong also made 'Bao Qingtian'?"

Yu Liwei said, "Of course, TVB... that is, the wireless TV station, made it, and ATV also made it. I still prefer the wireless TV station, the actresses are all very beautiful!"

Chu Qing was interested and asked, "Oh? Who are they?"

"Um, Jin Chaoqun, He Jiakin, and also..."

Yu Liwei paused, testing, "Do you know Zhou Huimin?"

"Know, the queen of the pure girl image!"

"What about Chen Songling?"

"Um, I know."

"What about Guan Yonghe?"

"Know, I like her dramas the most!"

Damn!

Yu Liwei's first reaction was that this guy was bullshitting.

He could understand knowing Zhou Huimin, as she was very popular, but knowing Chen Songling and Guan Yonghe, who were new actresses, was a bit much. Besides, the mainland had strict regulations on importing TV dramas and films, so where did you know them from?

If Chu Qing knew his thoughts, he would definitely despise him. Of course, he knew them from "Smiling at the Wind" and "Police Story" and "Miao Cuifang"!

He didn't watch many movies, but he knew TV series like the back of his hand.

However, he really hadn't heard of the Hong Kong version of "Bao Qingtian," and it didn't seem to have spread much in the future.

So the two of them started a heated discussion about the plot of the show.

Chu Qing usually didn't talk much, but when it came to his favorite TV series, he could go on and on. They talked back and forth, sometimes not understanding each other, but the atmosphere was what mattered.

Before they knew it, it was late at night.

While they were talking, they suddenly heard "knock, knock, knock" at the door.

Chu Qing asked, "Who is it?"

"It's me!"

Chu Qing recognized Jia Zhangke's voice, put on his slippers, and ran to open the door.

There stood Jia Zhangke, holding a bottle of wine in one hand and two plastic bags in the other.

"Old Jia, what's up so late?" Chu Qing asked bluntly. After some time, they had all become very close.

"Nothing, I can't sleep and wanted to chat. I was going to find Gu Zheng, but I passed by your room and heard some noise, so I knocked to check," Jia Zhangke said.

"Where's Wei Ge?" Chu Qing asked.

"He's already asleep, like a pig, I didn't wake him up."

Jia Zhangke shook the wine bottle and asked, "Want some?"

Chu Qing looked back at Yu Liwei, who had also gotten out of bed and was wearing a robe, and smiled, "Sure, let's have some!"

The three of them moved the coffee table between the two beds and used it as a table. Jia Zhangke said, "I'll check if Gu Zheng is asleep."

Chu Qing took the opportunity to look in the plastic bags. One bag was peanuts, and the other seemed to be some kind of chicken offal mixed with cilantro and chili, giving off a greasy aroma.

He had just thrown a large piece, not sure if it was intestine or stomach, into his mouth when Gu Zheng came in and shouted,

"Kid! Stealing food!"

Chu Qing laughed, "I'm eating it openly."

He was the youngest, and the others treated him like a little brother, often joking and taking care of him.

The four of them sat on the beds, found large porcelain cups and a thermos cap to use as glasses, and ate with their hands since there were no chopsticks.

Each of them poured a little white wine and drank it first.

Yu Liwei clearly wasn't used to it, choked, and coughed, "What brand is this wine, so spicy!"

"There's no brand, it's bulk wine," Jia Zhangke said.

Yu Liwei had never heard of "bulk wine," and Chu Qing explained it to him. He was surprised but then worried, "Is this wine up to standard, is it legal?"

The three of them looked at each other, unable to explain to this Hong Konger how widespread bulk wine was in rural areas in China.

Jia Zhangke changed the subject, "Is this your first time in a small county, Brother Wei?"

Yu Liwei sighed, "Yes, first time, I'm very surprised. I've been to the capital and Shanghai, where development is very fast, with tall buildings and good transportation. I didn't expect such a backward place in the inland area."

Jia Zhangke sneered, "Those two places are just the country's showpieces, not the real thing. This is the most real."

"Don't start with your twisted theories again, let's drink!" Gu Zheng, as a classmate, clearly knew him well.

The four of them drank another mouthful, and Gu Zheng said, "He's just stubborn, likes to get stuck in dead ends, and will eventually suffocate himself."

Jia Zhangke looked at him, smiled, and didn't say anything.

Gu Zheng seemed to suddenly remember a fun topic and asked excitedly, "By the way, do you know what the movie was originally called?"

"No idea," Chu Qing shook his head.

"It was called 'Jin Xiaoyong's Brother, Hu Haimei's Lover, Liang Changyou's Son: Xiao Wu'!" Gu Zheng proudly said this long title, as if it was something to be proud of.

"Ha ha!" Chu Qing, who was sipping wine, spat it out, staring at Old Jia.

Is this a movie title? Too ridiculous!

Jia Zhangke defended, "This isn't long. Do you know the British movie 'When You Tell Me You Love Me, Why Should I Believe You, Since I Already Know You've Been Lying to Me All My Life'?"

Yu Liwei responded, "I know that one. Have you seen 'The Evil Mutant Alien Cannibal Hell Zombie Flesh-Eating Living Dead's Revenge on the Bride's Son's Day of Dawn and Night Part 2: Horrific 2 - D Version'?"

Chu Qing's head was spinning, "What are you talking about?"

"It's a movie," Gu Zheng said.

"Is there a movie with such a long title? Is it good?" Chu Qing asked curiously.

Yu Liwei shook his head, "A terrible movie!"

Gu Zheng smiled at Jia Zhangke, "Your movie title is short, just two characters, so it must be a good movie!"

Jia Zhangke also smiled, "Then a one-character title would be even better?"

"Like 'Chaos'!" Gu Zheng said.

"Or 'Sword'!" Yu Liwei said.

"Or 'Well'!" Jia Zhangke said.

"Or 'Road'!" Gu Zheng said.

"Or 'Evil'!" Yu Liwei said.

"Or 'Spring'!" Jia Zhangke said.

...

The three of them were having a great time playing the one-character word game, leaving Chu Qing to drink alone.

This is unfair!

But soon, the three of them realized they had left Chu Qing out and stopped the childish game.

"Qingzi, what's your favorite movie?" Jia Zhangke asked.

"I, I don't have a favorite."

Can Chu Qing say his favorite movie is "Spider-Man"? So he just pretended to be clueless.

Jia Zhangke was a bit incredulous, "You don't watch movies?"

Chu Qing was honest, "Not really, I prefer TV series."

Jia Zhangke gave up on talking to him, took a big sip of wine, and was silent for a while. When he looked up, his face was already red.

He said to Yu Liwei with some emotion, "I took the entrance exam for the film academy for three years, Gu Zheng for two, and Wang Hongwei for two. Last year, we made a short film, and we only had 100 yuan left. Wang Hongwei made a lot of interest by playing mahjong for half a day. I never thought we could make a real movie today, Brother Wei, thank you, thank you!"

Yu Liwei understood his feelings, patted his shoulder, and they drank another mouthful.

"Bang!" Jia Zhangke put the cup down hard on the coffee table.

Chu Qing was startled, but Gu Zheng waved his hand, "It's fine, he's a bit drunk."

Jia Zhangke seemed to be talking to himself or to the three of them.

"Movies, they're really a good thing, but they're also not a good thing." He asked, "Brother Wei, have you seen 'Days of Winter and Spring'?"

"I saw it abroad, and I was surprised that a mainland director could make such a movie. Especially the black and white imagery, it's a great film!" Yu Liwei praised sincerely.

Jia Zhangke smiled bitterly, "But the director was banned because of this film!"

"Ready? Why?" Yu Liwei was really surprised, even saying it in English.

"Because... um..."

He didn't finish before Gu Zheng covered his mouth, "It's nothing, he's drunk!"

A few years ago, director Zhang Yuan, along with Cui Jian, made "Beijing Bastards" and submitted it to the Tokyo Film Festival without review. They were met by a "legitimate" delegation from China, who threatened to withdraw from the festival if Zhang Yuan was not rejected. This didn't work.

The next year at the Rotterdam Film Festival, the two sides met again, and the tragedy was repeated.

This became the trigger for the entire incident.

The production team, feeling humiliated, went home to seek help from their "parents." The relevant authorities then issued a document banning the directors of seven films: "The Blue Kite," "Beijing Bastards," "Wandering in Beijing," "I Graduated," "Shut Down," "Days of Winter and Spring," and "Suspended Love."

The reason was that they submitted the films to international film festivals without review. This is known as the famous "Seven Gentlemen Incident" of the Sixth Generation.

Hmm? There seems to be a strange Fifth Generation mixed in.

"When we rented the equipment, we saw this document posted on the office wall, and everyone felt very bad," Gu Zheng explained.

"Ah!"

Yu Liwei had some understanding and knew it was due to the larger environment, where individual power was minimal, so he could only sigh.

Chu Qing didn't understand the situation at all, looking left and right, feeling that they were talking about something very important.

A bottle of white wine is about a kilogram. Jia Zhangke had a low tolerance and couldn't handle more than two ounces. Gu Zheng let him lie on the bed, poured him a cup of hot water, and let him rest.

Most of the remaining wine was drunk by Gu Zheng, while Chu Qing sipped a little, and Yu Liwei ended up just eating peanuts.

They continued chatting, avoiding the depressing topics and moving to more pleasant ones, discussing the upcoming shooting.

Tomorrow they would shoot the scenes with the female lead, and Chu Qing was a bit excited, as it was his first time acting opposite a female actor, and he didn't know what it would feel like.

They ate and drank from around 8 PM until 11 PM. Jia Zhangke sobered up and felt a bit embarrassed about his earlier behavior.

Since they had to work the next day, the oldest, Yu Liwei, suggested they call it a night.

Gu Zheng helped the still slightly tipsy Jia Zhangke back to his room, and Chu Qing cleaned up and lay down on the bed.

But he couldn't fall asleep, his mind kept thinking about what Jia Zhangke had said earlier.

He always thought Jia Zhangke was a very quiet and calm person, but he never expected him to lose control like that.

That emotion was a complex mix of anger, helplessness, unwillingness, love, and dedication...

Chu Qing didn't understand, but he felt infected, and the blood in his body was subtly boiling.

Movies, movies, what are they, really?