In 2017, Zhang Guoli, who had entered his twilight years, suddenly appeared frequently in various David TV hit dramas. Whether it is an anti-Japanese war drama or a court drama, his figure seems to be everywhere.
Facing the spotlight, his vicissitudes of life and tired face revealed indescribable sadness. It turned out that he signed a gambling agreement with Huayi Company - as long as it was their script, no matter what the quality, he had to act; In exchange, the company offered an astronomical upfront pay.
"Why did you sign such an agreement?" The media reporter asked curiously. Zhang Guoli closed his eyes slightly, looked out the window at the sunset and the blood-heavy sky, and gently spit out two words: "Son."
It turned out that his 36-year-old son Zhang Mo was still trapped in all kinds of confusion and mistakes. In order to prepare him with more financial security after aging, Zhang Guoli could only sign such an agreement with tears and film desperately with young people.
Now that he is nearing old age, he doesn't have much time to rest. Every time he thought of the thorn in the softest part of his heart, a bitter smile would rise in his eyes.
Once upon a time, he also abandoned this son with ideals, and only wanted to go to Beijing with Deng Jie to break out of the world; Now this son has become a weakness that he has no way out, so he has to abandon everything and save up for him in his twilight years.
This is his father's debt, he thought to himself, once he owes it, it will be a love that he will not be able to pay off for the rest of his life.
Zhang Guoli was born in 1955 in a family of cadres in Tianjin. In 1984, at the age of 29, he met Deng Jie, who was the same age, in the crew of the TV series "The Password Was Not Leaked".
The two soon sparked a spark of love in and out of the play, and they were inseparable.
At that time, Zhang Guoli and his wife Luo Xiuchun had been married for several years, and their son Zhang Mo was just 2 years old. Married life was originally uneventful, until the appearance of Deng Jie broke this hard-won balance.
Zhang Guoli is in a dilemma, with the charming and charming Deng Jie on one side and a young son and a loyal wife on the other. Finally, encouraged by the awards for several of his works in 1987, he mustered up the courage to file for divorce.
Faced with his wife's tearful questioning, Zhang Guoguo's heart was like a knife. He knew he owed this woman too much. But when he thought of Deng Jie's face that lingered in his mind, he still signed the divorce agreement.
The agreement states that he will leave all his property and savings to Luo Xiuchun and his 6-year-old son, and they will also receive custody granted by the court. Looking at the scribbled divorce agreement, a trace of tears flashed in the corners of Zhang Guoli's eyes.
He knew that this was the decision he regretted the most in his life.
When he first arrived in Beijing, Zhang Guoli felt unprecedentedly lost. In this strange city, no one knows who he is, and he doesn't know anyone. Deng Jie was busy filming all day long and had no time to take care of his daily life.
In desperation, Zhang Guoli had to go to his friend Hou Yaowen's house to send food, helping them with chores while waiting for the opportunity to come.
Who knows, the opportunity is long delayed. Zhang Guoli can only shoot MVs for some singers to make a living, although he can only earn dozens of yuan for more than ten hours a day.
He couldn't bear to think of the glory of his time in Sichuan, but now he was reduced to the point where he needed to run around begging for food. Deng Jie is now a well-known red star, and the gap between them is widening day by day.
Looking at Deng Jie's figure, Zhang Guoli's heart was mixed.
In 1993, with the help of his friend Mi Jiashan, Zhang Guoli's career finally ushered in spring. He wrote, directed and acted in several plays, and gradually became famous.
When he looked out the window at the brightly lit Beijing with a photo of his son, mixed emotions surged in his heart. He wants his 15-year-old son to come and build a whole family again.
On the night Zhang Mo came to Beijing, Zhang Guoli couldn't hide the excitement in his heart. But when he walked into the house, he was greeted by his son's cold and angry gaze. "Why are you so late?" Zhang Mo asked coldly.
It turned out that in his heart, his absence for many years had caused irreparable mental damage. Every time he thinks of this, Zhang Guoli is like falling into an ice cellar and regrets it.
So, the father and son began a life of quarrels that lasted for several years. Zhang Guoli tried his best to cultivate his son's career, but Zhang Mo's path to success was eventually blocked by his own problems.
When he heard that his son had caused trouble again and again, Zhang Guoli endured the pain in his heart and mustered up the courage to apologize, excuse, and cover up for him. Because there is really nothing else to do but that.
For Zhang Guoli, who is over half a hundred years old, every mistake his son makes his heart like a knife. As a father, he once made a choice that is still difficult for him to forgive - he gave up his due paternal authority for love and career, and left behind his newborn son.
Now my son is lost in the whirlpool and shackles, and the root of all this lies in the selfish decision he made when he was young and frivolous. Every time I close my eyes, I think of my wife's tearful face and my son's helpless cry.
The piercing sense of remorse made Zhang Guoli's heart die and live thousands of times, which was his inescapable fate.
So he chose tolerance. For every mistake his son committed, he will stand up as soon as possible, and will not hesitate to cover, cover up and apologize. In the face of the reporter's surprised gaze and questioning voice, he just smiled faintly.
Because, this is a debt he owes, and he must pay it.
The long years gradually chiseled traces of vicissitudes on Zhang Guoli's face, and he used all his efforts and energy to save his son's life. Even if he signed a concession agreement to star in those dramas of poor quality, he had no complaints.
For these will be the expenses of his atonement. When the gorgeous light shone on his tired face, he would think of the child who was still waiting for his return in his mother's arms.
However, history cannot be repeated. He was still late.
Fortunately, the son still had time to regain himself. For his father's forgiveness and tolerance, perhaps one day, he will repay his understanding and even gratitude. At that time, Zhang Guoli will unload the burden of decades on his shoulders, and no longer look for direction on the road for the rest of his life, but just quietly complete the last journey.