Foshan Literature and Art

The world is as it is. Man is insignificant, man accepts his insignificance, man has no place in this world.

—VS Nahl, 1979, *A Bend in the River*

……

In those days, steam locomotives were still in service, but they were very slow. The mainstream trains at the time were green-skinned trains equipped with diesel engines.

The speed of the green train was increased to 78 kilometers per hour, and it took about 30 hours to travel from Yanjing to Guangzhou, which meant spending a day and two nights on the train.

The entire crew consisted of about two hundred people. Only the cinematographer and art director were allowed to take their expensive equipment by plane. The rest of the crew took the train, and even those were hard seats.

As for sleeper berths, forget about it, they're simply unavailable, and nobody knows who's in charge of them.

Huang Wenbin was prepared and brought a small quilt, which could be used as a backrest or a bottom cushion, and could also be used as a cover when sleeping.

"Once you're on the bus, try to travel in groups and avoid going off alone."

Before boarding the train, Chen Huaikai addressed all the crew members, saying, "Don't eat food from strangers, don't believe what others say, and don't buy anything from them."

Assistant director Yu Yangzhan added, "If you need anything, just talk to your team leader, and he'll help you resolve it."

Because there were too many people in the crew, Director Chen divided the six people into a group for easier management, and appointed the oldest person in the group as the group leader.

Train stations have always been places where all sorts of people mingle, and being stolen from here is considered the least of your worries.

It wasn't until the crackdown began in the 1980s, with several large-scale anti-pickpocketing operations, that the various criminal gangs at the train station were completely eradicated.

However, even in later generations, train stations remain a very delicate place, and it is always best to be cautious.

Once on the train, everyone found their own carriage.

Huang Wenbin's group of six consisted of Zhang Guoli, Wang Gang, Zhang Yimou, Zhang Lai, and Li Xuejian.

The fact that these people were able to join the group was all thanks to Huang Wenbin, so even though Wang Gang, the oldest member, became the group leader, Huang Wenbin was still the one who made the decisions.

Wang Gang also spoke to Huang Wenbin in a very natural way, as if it were an innate skill, and it didn't make people feel uncomfortable.

The long journey is the most grueling.

Especially now that it's summer, the carriage is filled with all sorts of unpleasant smells, making it even more of a torment.

Huang Wenbin could only find something to do, so he spread out a stack of manuscript paper on a small table and began writing his novel as if no one else was around.

"Hey, stop making so much noise." Seeing this, Wang Gang immediately whispered to the people next to him, "The screenwriter needs to write, everyone please be quiet."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yimou, Zhang Lai, and Li Xuejian all leaned over to see what Huang Wenbin was writing.

Upon closer inspection, the title at the top read "The Grandmaster Huang Feihong".

At this time, people in mainland China knew very little about the character Wong Fei-hung. Those involved in artistic creation might know that there was a very popular film called "Drunken Master" last year, which was about Wong Fei-hung.

Ordinary people in mainland China had hardly ever heard of him until the 1990s when Jet Li starred in the Wong Fei-hung series, which made the name known throughout the country and a household name. Since then, there have been films and television dramas about Wong Fei-hung from time to time.

Huang Wenbin knew that "Drunken Master" was a hit, so he planned to ride that wave of popularity.

Because "Drunken Master" was going to be released in Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, it directly ignited the entire Asia and became the box office champion in many countries.

Huang Wenbin had watched many films and TV series about Wong Fei-hung before his time travel, and with Tsui Hark's Wong Fei-hung series as a foundation, he figured he might as well copy it.

Huang Wenbin's plan is to use Tsui Hark's Wong Fei-hung series as the backbone, incorporating other Wong Fei-hung films and television series, to write a super-long novel.

This thing will definitely be popular in Hong Kong, and it will definitely be popular in mainland China as well.

However, the ideological constraints in mainland newspapers and magazines have not been completely lifted. The mainstream is still "scar literature," "reflective literature," and "reform literature." How many magazines dare to publish popular novels like this?

Huang Wenbin's first book was based on "Huang Feihong: The Legend of the Condor Heroes," interspersed with plots from Shi Xiaolong's version of "Young Huang Feihong" and the movie "Iron Monkey."

He wrote very quickly, almost without any corrections.

The people surrounding him were also thoroughly enjoying the reading; they couldn't believe such a novel existed in the world—it was truly captivating.

They held their breath, afraid that even the slightest sound would break Huang Wenbin's focused concentration.

In another private room, an elderly man with a long face was looking out the window with a worried expression.

The old man looked to be around sixty years old. He was wearing a navy blue polyester shirt and had a refined and elegant demeanor.

His name is Wang Ying, and he is the editor-in-chief of Foshan Literature and Art, a local publication in Guangdong Province.

Foshan Literature and Art was founded in 1972, but it did not develop well in the following years, with circulation dropping to less than a thousand copies at its lowest point.

Because it is a local magazine, it has always been troubled by the word "Foshan". It can't even get out of Foshan, let alone out of Guangdong Province and into the whole country.

Last month, following a seminar, the editorial department received instructions from above that they must break the deadlock facing the magazine as soon as possible, or they might face suspension of publication.

Wang Ying, the editor-in-chief, was extremely anxious. He wanted to solicit more articles from famous writers, so he went to Beijing to find a famous writer he knew.

Unfortunately, as a local magazine, it didn't attract many big-name writers. They submitted their manuscripts to magazines like People's Literature, Contemporary Literature, Harvest, Yenching Literature, and Shanghai Literature, and it was never Foshan Literature that got a chance.

If you can't get high-quality articles, the magazine's sales won't go up.

Wang Ying sometimes wants to write a few novels herself, but she worries that she is not capable enough and might end up harming the magazine.

After being rebuffed in Yanjing, he originally planned to try again in Shanghai.

But I've almost run out of money. If I ask the editorial department to send me more money, what if I still can't get a manuscript after arriving in Shanghai? The money would just be wasted.

Torn between these conflicting emotions, he decided to return to Foshan first.

Just then, the sound of several people talking startled him awake.

"This story is so well written."

"I've never read such a great novel before. The author is truly a master."

"The 'Shadowless Kick of Foshan'—is that an idea even humanly conceived?"

"Can Iron Shirt really be penetrated? I've heard it's impervious to swords and spears!"

"Invulnerable to swords and spears, that refers to wooden guns. Foreigners used firearms, how can they be the same?"

"..."

Listening to their discussion, he couldn't help but feel curious and asked, "What are you all talking about?"

"A novel!" A very outgoing man explained to the old man, "In the carriage ahead, there was a college student writing a martial arts novel, it was really exciting!"

Wang Ying then asked, "What kind of martial arts novels?"

"I don't know exactly who it is; I just heard it from someone I've seen."

The man shook his head, then continued enthusiastically, "I heard his name is Wang Feilong from Foshan. He runs a pharmacy, takes on apprentices, and fights foreigners. He's really something!"

Wang Yingke, the editor-in-chief of Foshan Literature and Art, immediately thought of someone upon hearing this information: "Huang Feihong?"

"Ah, yes, that's the name!" The man nodded repeatedly.

"Where is he?" Wang Ying asked excitedly, "The college student you mentioned who writes martial arts novels."

The man replied, "Didn't I just say it? Go to the previous carriage."

Wang Ying thanked him, then picked up her briefcase and squeezed into the next carriage.

After struggling through the crowded streets, I finally saw a group of people gathered ahead. Among them was a young man in his early twenties who had put down his pen and was telling them a story.

He spoke very briefly at the beginning, and soon came to the scene of Wong Fei-hung fighting Yan Zhenshan.

"...Yan Zhendong, covered in blood, collapsed into Huang Feihong's arms. He said with deep regret, 'Master Huang, our martial arts are ultimately no match for foreign guns,' and then died with resentment in his heart."

In an instant, national grievances, personal hatred, and the grief and indignation of a martial artist surged into his heart. Huang Feihong's pent-up anger was ignited. With a light leap, he soared into the air like a bird, quickly landing in front of the foreigner. He unbuttoned his coat and lashed it out like a steel whip, striking the foreigner so hard he cried out in pain and dropped his gun. Then he used the Foshan Shadowless Sword…”

He's already finished writing this, and someone just read it. Now I'm going to repeat it again, just to lighten the mood.

The people surrounding the area listened with great interest, their faces beaming with excitement.

Unfortunately, Huang Wenbin suddenly stopped here: "That's enough for today, I'm all out of breath."

"College student, could you tell us another part?"

"Exactly, it's not enough! You're a great writer, you can't keep us in suspense like this."

"Tell me again, tell me again."

Everyone in the carriage was listening, and now they all urged each other on.

Wang Ying suddenly realized that only by writing stories that the people love to read and hear would she be welcomed by them.

He must befriend this young man.

He absolutely had to get this manuscript approved.