Chapter 28: Stills from Romance on Lushan Mountain, Zhang Yu's Poster

"Jingjing! Jingjing!"

Liu Siyao had barely steadied her bicycle against the courtyard gate before she began calling out impatiently. Her voice carried a sense of urgency and excitement, the joy of a long-awaited reunion spilling over from her heart.

Before long, a series of light footsteps followed by the soft creak of a wooden door opening revealed a woman of gentle temperament and kind features. Her eyes held a trace of curiosity and inquiry.

Lin Junsheng stood to the side, his gaze flickering with surprise. He hadn't seen this woman during his previous visit to Liu Changgen’s home, and he couldn't help but speculate about her relationship with the family.

"Are you looking for my daughter?" Liu Lijuan asked, her voice soft and amiable, instantly winning one's favor.

So, she was Liu Jingjing’s mother.

Liu Siyao quickly stepped forward, beaming as she introduced herself: "Hello, Auntie! I'm Jingjing's friend, Liu Siyao."

Upon hearing this, Liu Lijuan smiled and said, "Oh, a friend of Jingjing's? Please, come in! Jingjing is upstairs reading; I'll go call her down." With that, she turned and headed into the house.

Moments later, the sound of light, quick footsteps descended from above, and a familiar figure appeared at the courtyard gate. Liu Jingjing was wearing a simple white dress, her long hair cascading loosely over her shoulders, a faint smile gracing her face.

It was the first time Lin Junsheng had seen her without her headband, and she was just as beautiful as ever.

"Siyao! What are you doing here?"

A spark of pleasant surprise flashed in Liu Jingjing's eyes. She quickened her pace, almost breaking into a trot to greet her, her smile brighter than the afternoon sun of midsummer.

Liu Siyao stood her ground, radiant as a flower, gently swaying the small handbag in her hand as she teased, "Well, I had some free time, so I thought I’d pay you a surprise visit. How about that—surprised?"

Liu Jingjing grabbed her hand, complaining affectionately, "You, always so unpredictable. I was just thinking that we should get together properly once school starts in September."

Liu Siyao blinked and said mysteriously, "I couldn't wait that long! My cousin is getting married, so I took the opportunity to come find you."

Liu Jingjing suddenly realized: "Did the veterinarian, Lin, bring you here?"

Liu Siyao burst into laughter, doubling over and patting Liu Jingjing’s shoulder. "Haha, 'the veterinarian, Lin!' That title is just too funny."

Liu Jingjing pouted in mock indignation, "He really is a proper veterinarian; he did a professional job delivering my family's calf, you know. But how do you know him?"

Liu Siyao’s laughter subsided. "Him? Lin Junsheng is my cousin—my actual cousin. I had already found your address, so I didn't need him to show me the way. It’s just funny that you two actually have a connection; it’s a small world."

Liu Jingjing’s eyes lit up as if she had discovered a new continent. "So he's your cousin! No wonder he looked familiar, though I couldn't quite place where I'd seen him before."

Liu Jingjing led them into the house. Lin Junsheng was no longer a stranger to the place, having spent several pleasant evenings at the Liu residence, but today was different. Liu Jingjing led them into her private sanctuary—her bedroom.

The room was arranged with simple elegance, the white walls acting like a pure canvas. A solid wood bed occupied a corner, its warm, natural grain inviting one to lie down and experience its comfort and stability. Beside the bed, a small bookshelf stood guard, neatly stocked with various works ranging from the Four Great Classical Novels to modern magazines.

The desk was even more eye-catching—broad and rustic, piled high with books and notes, some left open.

The most striking feature was the poster of Zhang Yu from the film *Romance on Lushan Mountain* pinned to the wall by the door. In the photograph, Zhang Yu wore a plaid shirt paired with fashionable jeans, her smile radiant, her face made all the more beautiful by the play of light and shadow. Her eyes held both the vitality of youth and an imperceptible toughness—a symbol of the independence and freedom of women in that era.

For the generation of Lin Junsheng, figures like Zhang Yu, Gong Xue, Zhao Jing, and Cong Shan were not just idols on the silver screen, but embodiments of their deepest yearnings for beauty and dreams. They were the goddesses of their generation.

At this time, Chen Xiaoxu, who would become famous for *Dream of the Red Chamber*, and Zhu Lin, known for *Journey to the West*, had yet to appear on screen. Most people were not yet familiar with them.

Lin Junsheng’s gaze fell on the *Romance on Lushan Mountain* poster, and a surge of curiosity prompted him to ask, "You like *Romance on Lushan Mountain*?"

Liu Jingjing nodded gently. "I do."

"The script for this film went through countless revisions before the ending was written so perfectly," she said, her voice filled with admiration for the story behind the film. "Did you know that a writer from Jiangxi named Bi Bicheng submitted a script to the Shanghai Film Studio in July of '79? While revising it, he used his spare time to write this very script."

Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she continued. "The story is quite simple, yet filled with the characteristics of the era. The daughter of a Nationalist officer returns to the mainland from the United States and falls in love at first sight with the protagonist on Mount Lu. But because of those tumultuous times, they are forced apart. That sense of helplessness and pain is truly heartbreaking."

She paused, then continued, "Five years later, the winds of reform and opening-up blew across the land. The heroine returns to Mount Lu, and their love is rekindled like fire meeting dry wood. However, the hero’s father is an officer of the Communist Party, and the two sides had even fought against each other on the battlefield. The heroine was so conflicted, fearing their love would fall apart again. But to everyone's surprise, the hero’s father sought her out and said: 'You are a good child who loves her motherland. Though your father is overseas, he never forgets his homeland. Now that the nation is pursuing the Four Modernizations, we need national unification and ethnic unity—we welcome your father to return!'"

Liu Jingjing wore a knowing smile as she finished. "This ending was truly both unexpected and perfectly logical."

Lin Junsheng nodded; it was indeed a brilliant revision. At the time, *Romance on Lushan Mountain* was a sensation. Once released, it sparked a nationwide craze and became a landmark film. One could even argue that if one were to write a history of Chinese cinema post-reform, *Romance on Lushan Mountain* would be the first entry. Furthermore, the film helped foster friendship between Taiwan and the mainland, enabling families to reunite. To think a single film could have such an impact!

Many young men at the time plastered their walls with posters of these goddesses. Lin Junsheng, too, longed to write such a blockbuster script—it was the only way to quickly make a name for himself in the literary and artistic world.