Chapter 184 How to Become a Drama Tyrant
Writing sketches is not a difficult task for Lin Weimin, especially when he has so much material from later generations in his mind.
But uncles and nephews cannot help with everything. If you want to sacrifice your uncle to pick up girls, it is really a bit too filial.
Decisively rejecting Han Zhuangzhuang's request and ignoring his resentful look, Lin Weimin disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Even on the next day, the boy still looked at Lin Weimin with resentment on his face, like a ghost, appearing from time to time.
"Go wherever it's cool. If you're brave, go chase her. If you're not brave, just stay still."
After being scolded by Lin Weimin, Han Zhuangzhuang walked into the kitchen with a look of grievance on his face.
After more than half an hour, dinner was ready.
Lin Weimin glanced at his eldest nephew, then at the food on the table, wondering whether he should use a silver needle to test for poison.
Forget it, he is my nephew after all.
After dinner, Lin Weimin prepared to have a heart-to-heart talk with Han Zhuangzhuang.
"To chase a woman, you have to be bold and careful. Have you read "Water Margin"?"
“I haven’t seen it.”
Lin Weimin's tone stagnated, "It doesn't matter if you haven't seen it, my uncle has seen it. You know how Ximen Qing hooked up with Pan Jinlian, right? What did he rely on?"
Han Zhuangzhuang shook his head, "I don't know."
"Do you know what the so-called Panlu Deng Xiaoxian means?"
"have no idea."
"Pan means he is as handsome as Pan An; Donkey refers to the lower body of a man; Deng refers to Deng Tong in ancient times, who was rich enough to rival a country; Xiao means one must be able to control one's temper and tolerate a woman's temper; Xian means one must have time to spare.
If you can excel in any one of these five things, it will not be a problem for you to find a wife.
If you have two or three of these things, it won't be difficult to marry a fairy."
Lin Weimin is a weird person, just like Wang Po who disciplined Ximen Daguanren in Water Margin.
Han Zhuangzhuang didn't understand what he said and felt a little shy, but he still asked boldly: "Uncle, what if all five are available?"
"You are really bold, your uncle doesn't even dare to hope for that." Lin Weimin looked at his eldest nephew and said, "If you really get everything, your life will be over. You have wasted all your time on women!"
"Ah!" Han Zhuangzhuang was surprised. He didn't expect that the more he took, the worse it would be. "Then how many did you take, uncle?"
Lin Weimin said proudly: "I, your uncle, have three of them."
"Which three?"
"You are still young. You won't understand even if I tell you."
Han Zhuangzhuang felt that he was being discriminated against and asked, "Then why didn't you marry a fairy girl, uncle?"
Feeling the threat of the death ray, Han Zhuangzhuang shrank his head, "Uncle, I understand."
After saying that, he ran away.
You bastard!
Your uncle gave you advice on life, but you stabbed his heart with a knife!
The midsummer in Yanjing is very unbearable. By noon, the temperature in the office is already unbearable, even with the windows open.
Just after lunch, Lin Weimin was chatting with his colleagues while tearing open a letter from a reader.
While I was reading the letter, there was a knock on the office door and a rough-looking young man stood at the door.
"Who are you looking for?"
"Hello, teachers. I'm looking for Teacher Lin Weimin." As soon as the young man opened his mouth, his voice was even rougher than his appearance.
"Weimin, I'm looking for you."
Lin Weimin, who was reading a letter with his head down, raised his head and saw a smiling face. The man was not good-looking, but the more he looked at him, the more manly he looked.
The young man approached Lin Weimin with a smile on his face, "Are you Teacher Lin Weimin? Oh, hearing about him is really not as good as meeting him in person. Not only is he a good handwriter, he is also very handsome."
Lin Weimin pulled his hand away. Knowing this man's character, he didn't take his words to heart. "Who are you? What do you want to talk to me about?"
He was asking this question even though he already knew the answer. He recognized the young man in front of him as soon as he looked up.
"Hello, Mr. Lin. Let me introduce myself to you. My name is Jiang Wen, and I am a student at the Central Academy of Drama. I came here mainly to talk to you about the role of Cheng Dieyi in Farewell My Concubine."
Jiang Wen was born with an unruly aura, and the tone of his voice sounded as if he was here to discuss business with Lin Weimin.
Even his colleagues in the office were amused by him.
Lin Weimin also laughed, "Oh, so what do you want to talk to me about?"
Jiang Wen pulled a chair and sat down, speaking directly, "I think the casting of Farewell My Concubine is not good."
"Why doesn't it work?" Lin Weimin asked.
Jiang Wen was overjoyed when he saw that Lin Weimin did not question his words but asked him carefully.
I’ve decided to play the role of Cheng Dieyi!
“I have watched the performances of Farewell My Concubine at the Capital Theatre and the Youth Palace. Yang Lixin at the Capital Theatre performed quite well, but the choice of Cheng Dieyi in Group B was not good.
First of all, the image is not up to par..."
Lin Weimin looked at Jiang Wen's endless lip movements, automatically filtering out his ozone layer. After he finally finished his long speech, he asked like a supporting actor in a crosstalk, "What do you think?"
Jiang Wen's face was firm and sincere, "We need to change the actor for this role, otherwise the show will be ruined."
Lin Weimin looked pious, just like the emperor's uncle who asked Kong Ming three times, "What kind of actor should we find?"
Jiang Wen was overjoyed, and finally his true intentions were exposed. He patted his chest and said, "I am like this."
"Oh? Do you think you are suitable to play Cheng Dieyi?"
"certainly."
"Why?" Lin Weimin asked.
"I'm a good actor, and I love watching Peking Opera."
Lin Weimin continued, "Then sing me a piece of The Drunken Concubine."
Jiang Wen was surprised and paused for a moment before quickly changing the subject. "Not only do I love watching Peking Opera, I can recite the novel Farewell My Concubine by heart. If you don't believe me, I'll recite a passage for you..."
Lin Weimin waved his hand to interrupt Jiang Wen's performance, and said with a smile on his face: "Okay, I understand what you mean."
Jiang Wen said anxiously, "Teacher Lin, how about I act out a scene for you, the one where Cheng Dieyi committed suicide?"
"Haha!" Lin Weimin patted his shoulder, "Sit down and talk!"
Jiang Wen was not stupid. As soon as he saw Lin Weimin's condition, he knew that he probably had no hope today, so he sat down with a bit of dejection.
"You look like you really like Farewell My Concubine?"
Jiang Wen nodded, "This play is so good, who wouldn't like it?"
"So you're thinking about playing Cheng Dieyi?" Lin Weimin asked with a teasing smile.
Jiang Wen showed a shy expression for the first time. "Teacher Lin, I think my image fits the bill..."
He didn't say what he wanted to say in the end because everyone saw through it. It would be disrespectful to say it again.
"Your image is more suitable for playing Duan Xiaolou." Lin Weimin said.
Jiang Wen felt a little comforted, he really liked "Farewell My Concubine". If he couldn't play Cheng Dieyi, he could play Duan Xiaolou!
Unfortunately, before he could feel happy, he heard Lin Weimin say again: "What a pity, you are still a student."
Jiang Wen's face suddenly fell, and he said hurriedly: "Teacher Lin, don't look at my young age, but I look anxious..."
Lin Weimin waved his hands, "That's not what I meant. The problem is that you are a student now, not an actor of the People's Art Theatre. Even if they want to use you, they can't!"
Lin Weimin said this with a tone full of regret, and Jiang Wen fully felt how much Teacher Lin valued him.
"Teacher Lin, you are the screenwriter, can't you help me think of a solution?" Jiang Wen pleaded.
"You said it yourself, I'm just a screenwriter. If the People's Art Theatre were to select actors internally, I could still have a say, but in your case, I can't help at all!"
Jiang Wen's face was filled with disappointment when he heard this.
At this time, Lin Weimin said, "How about this. Since you like Farewell My Concubine so much, I'll get you a copy of the script. You can go back and rehearse it with your classmates to satisfy your craving."
Jiang Wen sighed, realizing that his purpose of coming here today had failed, and he could only accept the reality.
"Thank you, Teacher Lin."
In this era, information is not as developed as in later generations, where everything can be searched on the Internet.
It is not easy for students like Jiang Wen to obtain the script of "Farewell My Concubine" from the People's Art Theatre.
Jiang Wen thought that since he got the script from Lin Weimin, the original author and screenwriter, it meant that he had received his approval, right?
Just based on the four words "Farewell My Concubine", he didn't believe that his classmates would not be excited. It was so easy for him to put together a drama crew.
With this righteousness in mind, can't he do whatever he wants?
Jiang Wen decided that he would be the director of this play and he would also be Cheng Dieyi.
I worked hard to get the scripts, so it’s not too much to take on two roles, right?
"Don't lose heart. You are still in school and you will definitely have plenty of opportunities after graduation." When sending Jiang Wen out, Lin Weimin was still comforting him.
Teacher Lin really has the demeanor of an elder, and Jiang Wen felt as if he were bathed in spring breeze.
"Thank you, Teacher Lin."
"Don't be polite. Study hard. If you really want to act in Farewell My Concubine, then try to get into the People's Art Theatre after graduation."
Jiang Wen was inspired by Lin Weimin's encouragement. He held the script in his hand and silently set a goal for himself.
After graduation, I must take the entrance exam for the National Theatre of China.
At this point in 1982, the Central Academy of Drama was located at No. 39 Dongmianhua Hutong, Yanjing DC District.
The school gate has an ancient flavor and has the school name inscribed by a great man himself.
Jiang Wen entered the school and returned to the dormitory, where several boys swarmed around him.
This guy boasted when he went out in the morning that he would go to Lin Weimin to ask for a Cheng Dieyi to play the role. Although the classmates didn't believe him, everyone was still full of curiosity.
"Jiang Wen, how are you? Did you meet Teacher Lin?" Liu Xiaoning asked.
"Isn't that nonsense? Why would I waste so much time if I didn't see Teacher Lin?" Jiang Wen drank a glass of boiled water and wiped the sweat off his forehead.
"Did you really see him? What does Teacher Lin look like?" Liu Xiaoning asked.
But Liu Bin pushed him aside and said, "Can't you ask something serious? Jiang Wen, did Teacher Lin agree to give you the role?"
Jiang Wen put the enamel pot on the table with a bang, "That's a must!"
The classmates looked surprised and asked, "Is this true?"
"Why would I lie to you about this? I tell you, you all have to thank me!" Jiang Wen had a smug look on his face.
"Why?" the students asked in unison.
“You don’t know, but today, Teacher Lin and I hit it off right away and had a great time talking to each other. When he heard that I wanted to play the role of Cheng Dieyi, he immediately said that he would take down the Cheng Dieyi from the Youth Palace and let me play the role.
But think about it, am I the one who ruins other people's jobs?
I said that’s not okay, the teacher performed very well.
Alas, Teacher Lin also values talent, so we finally discussed it together.
How about this, he authorized me the script of Farewell My Concubine and asked me to organize and stage the play, and let us compete with the People's Art Theatre!"
Jiang Wen spoke passionately, but his classmates listened with suspicion.
This guy is used to bragging, and only three or two out of ten of his sentences are worth listening to.
As soon as Jiang Wen saw everyone's expressions, he knew what they were thinking. Without further ado, he took out a booklet from his pocket.
He slammed it on the table with a loud bang, and said, "Can we rehearse this?"
When the students came over to take a look, they found that it was the script of "Farewell My Concubine".
They looked at Jiang Wen in shock, "Jiang Wen, have you really got Teacher Lin's authorization?"
No matter now or in the future, when students want to stage a play, there is no problem in using the script of any writer, but if they get the authorization of the original author, the title will sound different.
"Of course. Not only that, Teacher Lin also said that you, Xiao Jiang, will be the director of this play, and you will play Cheng Dieyi!"
The classmates' eyes became suspicious again. This tone was not like what Teacher Lin said. Are you faking the imperial edict?
Whether everyone believes it or not, Jiang Wen believes it anyway.
I, Jiang Wen, will play the role of Cheng Dieyi!
Although everyone was skeptical, it was definitely a good thing for everyone to get Teacher Lin's approval to rehearse "Farewell My Concubine".
Although these students are already very busy with classes, practice, and homework, no one can resist the temptation of "Farewell My Concubine".
Jiang Wen has worked hard this time, so let's give the position of director and leading actor to him.
(End of this chapter)
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