Story Beautiful Love : Innocent Times in a Black and White World
At that time, he was about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old and worked as the projectionist at the only cinema on the old street. He also delivered films to the countryside, riding an old bicycle carrying all his equipment—the projector, speakers, a white screen, and the film reels. From a distance, when children first saw his silhouette approaching the village, they would shout with joy, “The movie man is here! The movie man is here!” Yes, they called him the movie man.
The once peaceful village would suddenly burst into excitement, as if someone had thrown a handful of stones into a calm pond, causing ripples to spread everywhere.
Quickly, he would be surrounded by people—men, women, old, and young alike. Faces filled with smiles would turn towards him, as if he was a magician whose bag, once opened, would release all their happiness and joy.
She also eagerly awaited his arrival. The village was remote, the land barren, and even the wind throughout the seasons was thin and feeble. What was there to hope or wait for? A black-and-white film was undoubtedly the fullest joy in her heart.
At that time, she was about twenty-one or twenty-two years old, considered the village beauty. Matchmakers frequently visited her home, but she hadn’t found anyone to her liking.
Until she met him. His clean and bright face was so different from the tanned faces of the villagers. He also had a pleasant voice, like the sound of a bubbling stream. When the white screen was raised, he would test the sound system through the speaker, his kind voice echoing around, “Dear audience, tonight we will be showing the film ‘Tunnel Warfare’.” The golden hue of the dusk bathed his voice in radiant light. She wrapped that voice in her heart and placed it in the deepest part of her being.
Under the starlight, the crowd was dense. On the screen, the black-and-white figures and scenes swayed with the passing winds. The villagers never tired of watching the same few films over and over. They would watch them in their village and then follow him to another village to watch them again.
Each film was often watched a dozen times, and they still weren’t satisfied, surrounding him to ask, “When will you come back?”
She also followed him from village to village to watch the films, walking miles of bumpy roads without feeling tired. One night, after the movie ended, she waited under the moonlight. As the crowd dispersed, she felt her heart pounding. Finally, he came, curious, and asked, “The movie’s over. Why haven’t you gone home?” She said nothing, handing him a pair of embroidered insoles.
The insoles had a pattern of double lotus flowers, stitched by her under the moonlight. She turned and ran away, hearing him call after her, “Hey, which village are you from? What’s your name?” She quickly answered, “Elm Tree Village, my name is Juxiang.”
The next day, the children of Elm Tree Village were surprised to find him at the village entrance. They cheered and ran, shouting, “The movie man is here again! The movie man is here again!” She was cutting pigweed in the field when she heard the children’s cheers, standing still and smiling foolishly. He found an excuse to have someone from the village take him to her.
At the edge of the field, he gently called her, “Juxiang.” He handed her a newly bought handkerchief. She bit her lip and smiled, softly calling him, “Weihua.” That was the name she had held close to her heart. At that moment, the fields of rapeseed flowers were blooming brightly, just like their loving hearts. The whole world seemed to sparkle.
They secretly met a few times. He asked her, “Why do you like me?” She smiled shyly, “I like watching the movies you show.” He held her hand passionately, saying, “Then I’ll show you movies for a lifetime.” That was a promise. Her happiness was like scattered stars in the sky, each one sparkling.
A few days later, he was caught up in a political movement. His grandfather was abroad, and in those days, any foreign connection could change one’s fate. Because of his grandfather’s involvement, he lost his job and was sent to a labor camp. He and she lost contact.
She could no longer wait for him. The new movie man in the countryside was a middle-aged man with a full beard. She finally found a chance to ask him about him, but he sternly told her that he had gotten into trouble and it was best to stay away from him. She didn’t believe it. How could someone so clean and bright get into trouble? She traveled hundreds of miles to find him but couldn’t see him.
Meanwhile, another matchmaker visited her home, this time with a proposal from the son of the village secretary. Her parents were thrilled, thinking they had found a good match, and began preparations for her engagement and eventual marriage, forcing her to go along with it.
The night before her wedding, she tried to hang herself with a rope. When she was found, she was barely alive. Her world became chaotic. She lost her spirit, standing at the village entrance all day, clapping and singing. The village children would mockingly call her “fool,” and she would smile and join them in their chant, “fool, fool,” with an innocent look on her face.
A few years later, he was released and came back to find her. Seeing her at the village entrance, he was moved to tears. He called, “Juxiang.” She smiled foolishly at him and continued clapping and singing. She no longer recognized him.
He decided to take her away. Her family readily agreed, having long grown tired of her burden. Surprisingly, she didn’t resist but obediently let him take her away from the village where she was born and raised.
He took care of her and never left her side again. Over time, she became healthier, though still muddled, with a look of calm and peace. A few years later, the cinema was restructured, and as a senior employee, he was entitled to some compensation. He declined the money, asking only to keep the old projector. Who would care for such an outdated piece of equipment? He got his wish.
He brought the projector home, found some old films, and played them for her every day. The black-and-white figures and scenes flickered on the white cement wall. She watched quietly, her eyes growing softer.
One day, as she watched, she suddenly murmured, “Weihua.” He heard it and cried tears of joy. All these years, he had waited for her to call his name. It was like their first meeting in the field, where she bit her lip and smiled, softly calling, “Weihua.” The rapeseed flowers beside them bloomed brightly, and the world sparkled.
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
