Hou Xiling hasn't written for several years, but his writing skills are still as good as before.
The characters in the script are well-developed, and An Jiuyu is cruel, ruthless, and callous.
Xiao Zi is passionate, patriotic and concerned about the people.
When Peking was about to fall, the warlords took the opportunity to seize territory, regardless of the life and death of the country. Each person's character is vividly reflected on the paper.
Hou Xiling made an appointment with Jiang Se to meet the next day, so after 9:30, although the story was not finished yet, Jiang Se still put down the script in his hand.
After Hou Xiling made the call yesterday, he sent her home address to her mobile phone.
The old lady was not used to the current way of communication. She opened the text message she received, washed up, changed her clothes and went out. She found a breakfast shop outside the community and had breakfast before taking the subway.
Hou Xiling's home is located in a courtyard house on the east side of the central ring road of the imperial capital. The house is ancient and quaint. The housing prices in this area have been rising again and again with the development of the times. It is a place that cannot be bought even if you have money.
She bought some fruits and when she came over and knocked on the door, Hou Xiling was watering the camellia with a kettle.
In his early years, Hou Xiling bought this entire yard. The main gate faces the main house, with side rooms on both sides. The middle yard is divided into two halves, one half is covered with a grape trellis with stone tables and chairs underneath, and the other half is left empty.
There are some flowers, plants and trees planted around the courtyard, and there is also a crabapple tree planted in the corner of the courtyard. The space is not small.
"Xiao Jiang is here."
After Hou Xiling's wife came and opened the door, Hou Xiling finished watering the plants, put the pot down, smiled and waved to Jiang Se.
It seemed that there was no one else at home except the two old people. Jiang Se greeted the two old people first, and Hou Xiling said:
"You're here quite early."
It was just nine o'clock when Jiang Se came over. It was really early. "It's a rare opportunity to talk to Teacher Hou, so I wanted to come visit earlier, but I was afraid of disturbing you."
Hou Xiling's wife was a high school teacher in her early years. Although she was old, she had a good temperament. She obviously knew that Jiang Se was coming, so she prepared tea in the morning.
After hearing what Jiang Se said, she smiled and said:
"We don't have many people coming here usually. After the children grow up, they have nothing to do at home. It's just right for them to come here."
Hou Xiling led Jiang Se to sit down at the stone table in the courtyard. The weather in the imperial capital had already turned a little cooler in mid-October. He wore a white shirt and a gray knitted jacket and chatted with Jiang Se:
"Have you finished reading the script of "Beijing Events"?"
Jiang Se shook his head and answered honestly:
"Not yet. I live on campus and watch it occasionally when I go back. Last night I saw Xiao Zi trying to stop An Jiuyu from signing a contract with the Japanese invaders and preventing the fall of Peking."
She did not read books in a holistic manner, but rather read slowly. Perhaps it was because she studied Chinese language and literature before her rebirth. When she was reading, she noticed that Hou Xiling was very particular about the choice of words and the structure of sentences, which showed that he had a very solid foundation in writing.
"Reading is a very pleasant process for me." Especially when reading Hou Xiling's books, every paragraph makes people savor it again and again, and I feel very good after reading a paragraph.
Hou Xiling obviously agreed with what she said. When Mrs. Hou washed the fruit and brought it out, the two of them were already talking about the characters in the play.
"What do you think of the 'cardamom' in the play?"
The Marquis's wife smiled and shook her head, then sat down and listened to Jiang Se's answer.
"To be honest, when I first saw the character of 'Doukou', besides because you were the screenwriter and Director Lin attached great importance to this film, I was actually a little hesitant when I saw the identity of 'Doukou'."
Jiang Se picked up the teacup and took a sip.
When the Marquis's wife heard her say this, she nodded in understanding.
No matter how stunning the appearance of 'Doukou' in the text is, her origin is always a flaw when she first appears.
Generally, women who are willing to play such roles in pleasure quarters are mostly played by sexy actresses in movies to show their charm and allure.
But Hou Xiling did the opposite and wrote an image of a woman of pleasure that was completely different from everyone's impression.
"The reason why I am attracted to the character of 'Doukou' is because you brought her to life." Hou Xiling smiled and gestured, signaling her to continue:
"She tried to capture Xiao Zi several times, but let him escape several times. This behavior subconsciously proved that her feelings for Xiao Zi were very complicated and restrained deep in her heart. She fell into the brothel and was rescued by An Jiuyu, so when An Jiuyu's power fell, she still stayed by An Jiuyu's side and never left him." It shows that there is a kind of "righteousness" in "Doukou" that many men do not have.
"In "Beijing Events", many people felt sorry for her, thinking that she had lost her chastity and purity, and that entering the entertainment venue was like falling into a quagmire. But when Xiao Zi took over the An Mansion and captured An Jiuyu, the moment he saw her, she was singing "The Song of the Chaste Wife." Jiang Se said this and added:
“I think this is very interesting.”
In the eyes of many people, "Doukou", who was born in a brothel and wandered among men, was not a chaste and heroic woman. However, when she was arrested, she sang "Song of the Chaste Wife". Obviously, she had her own standards deep in her heart regarding chastity.
She doesn't think she is dirty, only those who covet her beauty are dirty.
"She once said that she didn't think she was born a ghost, but the world forced her to become a ghost. I think this is her condemnation of the world."
Madam Hou also nodded and expressed her own opinion:
"I think that rather than refuting Xiao Zi, she was fighting against the social environment at the time and was unwilling to give in. I share the same view as you, Xiao Jiang."
Mrs. Hou had heard Hou Xiling mention Jiang Se before, and also learned that Hou Xiling had specially invited Chang Yuhu for Jiang Se. She was very curious about Jiang Se at that time. Now that she saw her, she felt that her husband had good taste.
The few of them discussed for a while, ranging from "Great Events in Peking" to foreign religious works. It is understandable that Hou Xiling and his wife are knowledgeable, after all, they are older.
But what surprised Hou Xiling was that Jiang Se had read quite a few books, making it hard to imagine that she was still young.
Sometimes when she didn't understand something, she would listen quietly and ask questions humbly. Talking with her really made the couple feel happy. When Chang Yuhu called to remind Hou Xiling not to forget the agreed time, Mrs. Hou was still reluctant to leave and invited Jiang Se to visit their home again next time.
The restaurant that Hou Xiling booked was a traditional restaurant. It was not located in a bustling neighborhood, but was hidden in a courtyard.
He is old, but he still walks most of the time when traveling. He only takes public transportation when the distance is too far. He lives a very simple life.
The restaurant was not far from the Hou family's house. They walked two alleys and arrived there. When the two of them came over, they happened to bump into Chang Yuhu at the door. (To be continued)