Chapter 72 This Friend is Too Strong
However, after a detailed discussion with Yi Shizhi, Lin Weimin found out that the script fee was not a one-time payment.
In addition to the 300 yuan this time, Lin Weimin will receive corresponding commission for every performance of "The Intouchables" by the People's Art Theatre in the future, which is 5 yuan per performance, and will be settled according to the number of performances every year.
This is an old tradition of the People's Art Theatre, and it has continued in later generations. The People's Art Theatre did not stop paying royalties to Mr. Lao She's family until 2016, and the royalties to Mr. Cao Yu's family have continued to be paid without interruption.
After hearing this information, Lin Weimin finally felt a little comforted.
After saying goodbye to Yi Shizhi, Lin Weimin rode his bicycle to the entrance of the People's Art Theatre, when a figure suddenly jumped out from the darkness.
Lin Weimin was startled, thinking he was being held up by a robber.
"Teacher Lin!" The voice turned out to be Li Guangfu.
"Teacher Li!"
Li Guangfu said hurriedly: "Don't be polite, just call me Xiao Li."
Xiao Li, you are over 30 years old after all, you can swallow your pride, but I can't say that!
"Teacher Li, is there anything I can help you with?" Lin Weimin asked.
Li Guangfu said: "Thank you so much today. If it weren't for your affirmation, I wouldn't be able to play the role of Lin Xiaoding."
"You're welcome. It's mainly because you are more suitable for this role."
"Teacher Lin, I wonder if you are free. I would like to invite you to dinner." Li Guangfu explained his purpose.
Lin Weimin said: "It's a bit late today, isn't it?"
"Then tomorrow, I will treat you to shabu-shabu mutton tomorrow."
"Okay, tomorrow then."
The two agreed on a time and Lin Weimin left on his bicycle.
Li Guangfu looked at the figure going away in the darkness and felt secretly happy.
He entered the actor training class of the People's Art Theatre when he was a teenager. He has been working hard in the theatre over the years and has played a lot of small roles, but has never played a leading role.
It was a stroke of luck that he met Lin Weimin today and got to play the leading male role. Li Guangfu was extremely grateful to Lin Weimin.
What's more, Dean Shi Zhi had introduced that this person was Mr. Wan's last disciple. Just based on this identity, there would be no disadvantage in making friends with him.
The next day, Lin Weimin got off work and came to Donglaishun, where Li Guangfu was already waiting.
The mutton sold at Donglaishun is made from castrated rams. The meat is soft and lean. The butcher's skills are also outstanding. The mutton is sliced into thin slices that are translucent.
Plates of mutton were served neatly, and just looking at the red and white meat was enough to whet your appetite.
These days, when you invite people to Donglaishun for a treat, the sincerity is beyond doubt.
Lin Weimin and Li Guangfu chatted while eating, mainly Li Guangfu talking and he listening.
Li Guangfu was a local resident of Yanjing. His family was well-off when he was a child and he lived in Dongdan, two doors away from the China Children's Art Theatre and to the west was the Ningjun Prince's Mansion.
It was also because his home was in Dongdan, which was very close to the China Children's Theater and the China Youth Art Theater, that he had been shuttling back and forth between the two theaters since he was a child and developed a great interest in drama.
In 1960, the National Theatre of China and two other theaters jointly recruited young people. Li Guangfu signed up without hesitation. He was only 13 years old that year.
At that time, the teacher told him that 13 years old was not enough and our minimum requirement was 15 years old.
“At the time I said to the teacher, ‘How do you know that you can act at the age of 15 but not at the age of 13?’.
At that time, I was young and fearless, so the teacher really let me in. Now I have been in the People's Art Theatre for 20 years. It's incredible to think about it."
Li Guangfu shook his head and recalled the past, feeling very sad.
Lin Weimin smiled and said, "You have been in the industry for quite a long time. You are already a veteran actor at only thirty years old."
Li Guangfu waved his hands quickly, "Please don't look down on me, I'm just a minor character."
"There are no small roles, only small actors. I remember this was said by your theater senior, right?"
"Yes, that's what our Dean Yu said. That being said, for actors like us who have never played the leading role, it's always a pity."
"That's right. This time I can make up for my regret."
"So I have to thank you, Teacher Lin." Li Guangfu raised his glass and thanked him.
“You’re so kind.”
After they finished a glass of wine, Lin Weimin asked, "I just heard you say that your family is an old resident of Yanjing."
"Yes, my grandfather has been making a living here."
"It just so happens that I have something I want to ask you for advice..."
Lin Weimin mentioned that he wanted to buy a Siheyuan. Li Guangfu frowned after hearing this. "Teacher Lin, Siheyuan is not a good choice for buying a house nowadays. You can't find one that suits your taste. Even if you do, the price is much more expensive than buying a bungalow or a tube-shaped building."
"I understand this. It's mainly a personal preference. I don't like living in a tube-shaped building. It feels too depressing. It's more comfortable to live in a yard of my own."
Li Guangfu complimented: "You really know how to enjoy life."
"I'll ask around for you later to see if there's anyone around who wants to sell their house."
"Then I thank you."
After the meal, both the guests and the hosts were very happy.
On the weekend, Lin Weimin went to the National Theatre of China in the morning and spent the whole morning watching everyone rehearse. At noon, he brought a few kilograms of shabu-shabu mutton to No. 26 Lama Temple Street.
"Tie Sheng! Tie Sheng!" Lin Weimin habitually called Shi Tiesheng's name in the yard before even entering the door.
Shi Lan pushed open the door and said angrily, "Brother Lin, every time you come, the neighbors tell us that your guest is too noisy!"
Lin Weimin shook the mutton roll in his hand and said, "Then I'll leave?"
Shi Lan stopped talking and stared at the mutton roll.
Lin Weimin put the mutton roll in his hand into the house. Shi Tiesheng rocked his wheelchair and asked, "Why haven't you come here for a while?"
Lin Weimin came to their house once when he just came back from Northeast China, and has never been there since.
"Busy! Miss me?"
"I mainly miss your mutton rolls."
"Haha! I'll let you eat enough today."
"It seems like you've made a fortune again." Shi Tiesheng said confidently.
"I know." Shi Lan raised her hand. "Brother Lin published an article called 'The Cliff' in 'Contemporary'. It's a long article. It must have earned at least a thousand yuan."
Lin Weimin said lovingly, "Little clever ghost!"
"Not only was it published in Contemporary, but Cliff is going to be published as a separate volume, and I got an extra 2,000 yuan in royalties."
Shi Lan's eyes widened. "Two thousand?"
She shook Shi Tiesheng's shoulders and said, "Brother, two thousand yuan!"
"I know, just be gentle!" Shi Tiesheng looked so depressed after being tortured by his sister.
"Then I wrote a script for the People's Art Theater and received a fee of 300 yuan."
"There's still money?" Shi Lan couldn't believe it.
Shi Tiesheng's focus was different from hers. "Writing scripts for a human art theater?"
Lin Weimin nodded and said, "Yes, the teacher's request."
"Ah!" Shi Tiesheng sighed meaninglessly, his eyes full of envy, "I wrote a script for People's Art Theater, did they use it?"
"Can't you give me the royalties?"
Shi Tiesheng looked at Lin Weimin and suddenly didn't want to talk.
This friend is too strong.
(End of this chapter)
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