Chapter 25: Writing a Script

“Sister-in-law, what’s this?” Ran Jinnian looked completely bewildered.

Zhou Hongying first introduced them: “Jinnian, this is Yao Yurong, and this is Huang Pingping, Chen Jinfeng, and Wang Xiaoli.”

“Hello, sisters-in-law,” Ran Jinnian greeted. Seeing everyone standing at the door, she immediately invited them in: “Please come in, everyone. Make yourselves comfortable.”

After speaking, she was about to pour some water.

“Jinnian, don’t bother for now,” Zhou Hongying stopped her and pulled her to sit down. “We came to see you because of the performance for this event.”

“To see me?”

Ran Jinnian paused, then quickly added, “Sister-in-law, I’m pregnant, so I won’t be participating in this performance.”

Zhou Hongying smiled: “Of course you can’t participate; the child is the most important thing.”

Ran Jinnian became even more confused: “So you didn’t come to ask me to perform. Then… what is it?”

“Little sister,” a round-faced woman said cheerfully, “I’m Yao Yurong. We came to ask you to help us decide what kind of performance we could do.”

Ran Jinnian was caught between laughing and crying. She quickly waved her hands: “I don’t know how to do this! I can’t sing, I can’t dance.”

“We don’t know how to sing or dance either,” another family member spoke up.

“Then what do you need me for?”

Ran Jinnian was even more puzzled.

“I’ll explain,” Zhou Hongying said, standing to avoid everyone crowding around Jinnian. “It’s like this: these women want to participate in the performance, but they don’t know how to sing or dance. Since you are educated, maybe you could help them think of another way to perform.”

Now Ran Jinnian understood, but she was a little puzzled. If they couldn’t sing or dance, why even perform?

Zhou Hongying leaned closer and lowered her voice: “They are all daughters-in-law. Their husbands’ families don’t value them, and their men are cold. They’re hoping to change things about themselves.”

Ran Jinnian nodded in understanding.

She looked at the sisters-in-law with admiration. Only by being brave could one strengthen oneself.

She thought carefully: “I have an idea. It’s not singing or dancing.”

Everyone perked up: “What is it?”

“This performance can be a play—a drama based on dialogue,” Ran Jinnian explained, fearing they wouldn’t understand. “It’s like acting on TV.”

They exchanged glances, none of them very confident: “Acting? How do we do that?”

Ran Jinnian simplified it: “You act out the story you want to show, so everyone knows what your performance is about.”

“So, what story do we act out?” Yao Yurong asked.

Ran Jinnian paused: “That requires a script.”

In her previous life, she had died in 1982. Guangzhou was developing rapidly and was an important city. She had only seen a stage play once, just after arriving in Guangzhou, before she had fallen out with Song Zehan.

The streets were full of stage play advertisements, and Song Zehan had taken her to see one. The memory was still vivid.

Everyone got excited:

“Little sister, where do we find a stage play script?”

“How much does a script cost?”

“I want to act in this play!”

Zhou Hongying spoke up: “Don’t shout. Let’s hear what Jinnian has to say.”

Everyone quieted down.

“There are no scripts for sale,” Ran Jinnian said. Having read many books in the space and combined with her previous life’s experience, she knew scripts were written, not bought.

Huang Pingping looked disappointed: “Ah, if there’s no script, how do we do the play?”

“We can’t do anything,” Wang Xiaoli, who had been silent, said gloomily.

Seeing their spirits drop, Ran Jinnian thought of their struggle against unfair treatment: “I can write the story for the play.”

Everyone became excited again.

“That’s great! That’s wonderful!”

Zhou Hongying smiled warmly: “Jinnian, you’re amazing.”

Lu Jinyuan was lucky; he had married a treasure.

“Don’t worry, little sister. We won’t let your work go to waste,” Yao Yurong stood up. “We’ll pay for it.”

“Yes, we’ll contribute,” the others added. Since there were many of them, a little from each would be enough.

Ran Jinnian smiled: “It’s my first time writing, so I don’t know what it will turn out like. Besides, even if you perform the story I write, I’m still part of the performance.”

Although she wouldn’t appear on stage, the story was hers, so she was involved.

Zhou Hongying approved: “Jinnian is right.”

Hearing this, everyone agreed enthusiastically: “Yes, yes, you’re one of us too.”

“Jinnian, then the story for the play will be yours to write.”

Ran Jinnian agreed immediately: “No problem. But for the play, we still need more performers.”

“More performers? How many do we need?”

Thinking about it, Ran Jinnian decided: “Eight to ten should be enough.”

Yao Yurong responded quickly: “Okay, we’ll find a few more.”

“How long will it take to write the story?” someone asked, hitting the key point.

Ran Jinnian had never written before, so she didn’t want to commit too firmly: “Three or four days, maybe.”

“No rush. You’re pregnant, so take your time,” Zhou Hongying said, not wanting her to be overworked.

“We’ll leave now. If you need anything, come to us. We live in the row of bungalows behind you,” Yao Yurong said, seeing that everything had been settled.

Ran Jinnian didn’t stop them: “Take care, sisters-in-law. Once the script is ready, I’ll tell Sister Zhou.”

They waved and left.

Zhou Hongying stayed behind: “Jinnian, I took the liberty of bringing them over for you to write the play’s story.” She worried that Ran Jinnian might feel pressured.

“Zhou sister-in-law, what are you talking about? We all live in the family compound; we’re one family,” Ran Jinnian said, not blaming Zhou Hongying. She had offered to write the story herself.

Zhou Hongying still felt a little embarrassed: “Then, if you’re writing the story, you can ask me for help with housework.”

Ran Jinnian playfully winked: “My courtyard hasn’t been swept yet, so I’ll trouble you, Sister Zhou.”

“What trouble? Didn’t you just say we’re one family?” Zhou Hongying immediately grabbed a broom.

They laughed together for a while before Zhou Hongying finally left the yard.

Ran Jinnian took a sip of water. She hadn’t expected to participate in the performance without actually performing.

What kind of story should she write?

She had no ideas at the moment, so she went straight into her space to look through books for inspiration.

Military District

Political Commissar’s Office

As soon as Yan Qingxue entered the office, she heard her father praising Lu Jinyuan’s report: “This kid’s previous reports were terrible, but this one is well done.”

“Dad…”

Yan Qingxue spoke softly.

Seeing his daughter, Political Commissar Yan threw the report on the desk: “Why are you here?”

“Dad, didn’t you want me to come?” Yan Qingxue said, slightly annoyed.