Back to 80: My Literary Life

Zhenbeibao is located about 35 kilometers northwest of Yinchuan. The roads are also full of potholes and dust is everywhere when cars pass by.

After almost an hour, everyone arrived at their destination. Zhao Hongjun got out of the car and took off his sunglasses.

"That's it?"

"Yes, Mr. Zhao, right here."

Looking up, I saw a wilderness, full of desolation. In the wilderness, two abandoned castles. , one south and one north, facing each other lonely.

"The one in the north was built by Xu during the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty. It was called the "Zhenbei Fort" at the time and was a border fortress during the Ming and Qing Dynasties."

"This one in the south was built in the fifth year of Emperor Qianlong's reign in the Qing Dynasty when a major earthquake occurred in Ningxia and destroyed the Zhenbei Fort. A new castle was built not far from the Zhenbei Fort and was named the "Zhennan Fort"." Zhang Xianliang pointed to the two castles in the distance. Introduce everyone.

"When I was undergoing labor reform, I lived not far from here. One time I accidentally went to a concentration camp and discovered that in this place, the castle was decaying but not defeated. This deeply attracted me, and I wrote it into the novel "Greening Tree"."

"Isn't this too shabby?" Zhao Hongjun couldn't help complaining.

"The Red Army, you don't understand, this is what they want." Fang Minghua said with a smile.

"Yes, Minghua is right. There is so much smoke in the desert and the sun sets over the long river. When evening comes and you look at this old castle, you will see a kind of desolate beauty. I dare say you can't find any other place in China! Let's go! Go in and have a look.”

Several people entered the Zhenbei Castle in the north. Although it had gone through the vicissitudes of time and damage during special periods, the castle was still relatively well preserved, and the foundations of the turrets on all sides of the city wall could also be seen.

It was still desolate inside, but the traces left by the crew after filming were very clear.

"This house." Zhang Xianliang pointed to an inconspicuous adobe house on the roadside, ""The Wrangler" was filmed here."

"Is it adapted from the novel "Spirit and Flesh" you wrote?" Zhao Hongjun interrupted.

"Yes, that's right, it was filmed by Director Xie Jin. From that time on, I wanted to transform this place into a film and television base." Zhang Xianliang said, greeting a few people into the room, and saw that there were earthen kangs, earthen stoves and the like inside. , with a thick layer of dust falling on it.

"These are all left by the crew, but they are now abandoned." Zhang Xianliang explained.

"In addition to filming "The Wrangler", "One and Eight" and "The Ballad of the Yellow River" were also filmed here. Zhang Yimou also found this place to film the book "Not One Less" written by Minghua, and a primary school was built specifically for this purpose. , I will show you when the time comes.”

Zhang Xianliang said and walked out of the room.

Historically, "No One Left Behind" was filmed in a small village in Hebei Province. However, because Fang Minghua gave Zhang Yimou the script in advance, he recommended him to film here.

Zhang Yimou, who once worked as a photographer and filmed "One and Eight" there, knew this place and went there happily.

Fang Minghua and the others followed Zhang Xianliang to the filming location of "No One Left Behind". Inside an adobe wall, there were several adobe houses used as classrooms.

Fang Minghua stood by the window and saw through the plastic paper that the classroom was made of adobe tables and chairs, and there were a few chalk words written on the blackboard that had lost its black paint.

"Study hard and make progress every day", the font looks so immature that it looks like a child's font, probably left over after filming a movie.

"In Ningxia, rural primary schools are basically like this. I guess it will be similar when you go to Gansu Province."

"Some are worse than this." Zhao Hongjun replied.

"There are too many debts due to education." Zhang Xianliang sighed: "I heard that the movie Zhang Yimou made won many international awards."

"There are quite a few, including Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers, Venice Film Festival, etc." Fang Minghua replied with a smile.

"Your township party member Zhang Yimou is indeed a genius, and the same is true for "Red Sorghum"." Zhang Xianliang said with a smile: "However, Minghua, your scripts are good, and I found that you really like to write about rural teachers."

"Because they are worth writing about."

Zhang Xian nodded and said nothing more.

Under the leadership of Zhang Xianliang, the two watched the real scene of the "Blacksmith Camp" in "The Ballad of the Yellow River". The Moon Gate, the brewery, Jiuer (played by Gong Li)'s room, etc. in "Red Sorghum".

It's a pity that classic films such as "Westward Journey" and "New Dragon Gate Inn" have not yet come out at this time, and naturally there is no trace of their filming.

The four of them walked around for a long time before preparing to return. To be honest, there was really not much to see in Zhenbei Fort at this time. The bustling old Yinchuan Street of later generations had not yet appeared. The whole castle was deserted, but there was an old man inside. Passing by with the sheep.

Fang Minghua asked Zhang Xianliang and found out that there were more than 20 families living near the castle.

Back in the city, Zhang Xianliang invited Fang Minghua and the others to dinner again, and then arrived at the Yingbin Building. In the room, Zhang Xianliang lit a cigarette for Zhao Hongjun, and then said with a smile: "Minghua, you also watched it today, how was it? "

"Let the Red Army tell it, he knows more about business than me." Fang Minghua said.

"you?"

"I have investment in his company." Fang Minghua said lightly.

Zhang Xianliang suddenly realized.

Zhao Hongjun was not in a hurry and took a puff of cigarette before saying: "Chairman Zhang, tell me what you think first."

"Well."

Zhang Xianliang winked at Ma Hongying, who was sitting next to him. Ma Hongying immediately took out a few pieces of paper from the bag she was carrying and handed them to Zhao Hongjun.

"This is the main plan for the film and television base made by our Chairman Zhang and the project funding situation. Take a look."

Zhao Hongjun took it, read it carefully, and handed it to Fang Minghua.

Fang Minghua also took a look. It was mainly the overall plan of the film and television city. Zhenbeibao (Mingcheng) was the main part, and Zhennanbao (Qingcheng) was developed in stages, gradually building it into a tourist attraction integrating film and television shooting base, sightseeing, food and folk customs.

Fang Minghua did not have much opinion on this overall project plan. Later generations proved that Zhang Xianliang was quite successful.

"This is a cultural relic protection unit in your city. Can it be developed?" Zhao Hongjun asked a key question.

"This problem is indeed more difficult." Zhang Xianliang did not hide it: "But after I found the leaders of the relevant departments, they finally agreed that our Federation of Literary and Art Circles could develop it, as long as it did not destroy the original city walls and other buildings-after all, cultural relics maintenance also costs money. The city is poor and has no money. If we take over, it will also reduce their burden."

Zhao Hongjun listened and nodded. "Well, let's talk about the specific cooperation intention?"

"Okay, Hongying, you talk to Mr. Zhao." Zhang Xianliang stood up and said to Fang Minghua: "Minghua, I heard that you also like calligraphy. I wrote a few words. Do you want to see them?"

"Okay, where is it?"

"In my office, let's go?"

Fang Minghua went there happily, leaving Zhao Hongjun and Ma Hongying to negotiate.

The two of them came to Zhang Xianliang's office in the Federation of Literary and Art Circles in Santana, and Fang Minghua really saw Zhang Xianliang's calligraphy.

It must be said that Zhang Xianliang's calligraphy is really good, beautiful and graceful, handsome and varied, a bit like the style of Mi Fu, Su Dongpo and Dong Qichang.

Before leaving, Fang Minghua asked for a piece of his calligraphy.

As for his own. Let's practice for another two years.

When the time was about right, Zhang Xianliang sent Fang Minghua back to the hotel and made an appointment for dinner.

Fang Minghua returned to the hotel room, where only Zhao Hongjun was.

"Have you finished talking?"

"It just ended. Zhang Xianliang is really something. He dragged you to appreciate calligraphy at this time. He is just being pretentious!" Zhao Hongjun complained.

Fang Minghua laughed: "I understand what he means. He and I are friends. There are some things that are embarrassing for both of us to talk about. You two are the best to talk about it."