He chose someone unexpected yet somewhat expected by Director Song—Zhuang Zhixi.
Zhuang Zhixi had no connections, so he couldn't be transferred to the propaganda department. Learning to play movies would only allow him to fill in, not replace Xiao He. As for filling in, Xiao He wasn't too concerned; it wouldn't give Zhuang Zhixi any advantage over him.
So he strongly recommended Zhuang Zhixi to Director Song. As a leader, Director Song didn't care about Xiao He's thoughts; he just wanted the matter to be resolved satisfactorily. After all, they hadn't had such a big event in years, and if they messed it up now, it would show their work wasn't up to par.
Director Song: "Xiao He is willing to teach you, but you also need to study hard. Skills like these, the more you learn, the better."
Zhuang Zhixi was clear about the situation, but after a moment's hesitation, he nodded immediately: "Alright, Director, don't worry, I'll study hard."
