Chapter 84 Li Meng, I am your captain
Hearing Ren Limeng calling Guan He's name in a playful tone, and looking at the two people opposite who were smiling knowingly, Shen Xing almost bit his teeth to pieces, but his eyes were only slightly gloomy, and his expression was still indifferent and cold.
He crossed his arms over his chest, stared intently at the two people opposite him, and said coldly, "Of course Mei City must integrate Huangmei Opera. 'Couple Watching Lanterns' is a classic piece, but the theme of past and present lives is clichéd and not as good as the past and present, the past and present of opera actors."
Ren Limeng and Guan He both learned opera since childhood. They are two opera actors who changed their careers. How could they have such a tacit understanding and understanding that they hit it off? It is so vulnerable.
Shen Xingzhi sneered in his heart and suppressed all the emotions that surged up.
Noticing the gazes of the other three, he lowered his eyes and continued casually, "You two used to be opera actors. Why did you change careers? Why don't we tell your own unique stories on stage? Why did you give up studying opera?"
Chen Xingzhi's sharp and straightforward question made Guan He and Ren Limeng frown at the same time, and the smiles they exchanged immediately turned into the same bitter smile.
If it weren't for the row of cameras quietly set up outside, Ren Limeng really wanted to roll her eyes at Chen Xingzhi. They all chose to change careers, and naturally they all had their own difficulties. Why did Chen Xingzhi bring up such a sore topic again!
The past and present are truly old-fashioned! What's there to look back on? We all need to move forward and never look back!
"Brother Xingzhi..."
There was a bitterness in Guan He's voice. As a reality show, the stories of the guests are an important part of "Shan Hai". Therefore, although Guan He's eyes became a little dim and his shoulders drooped, he finally opened his mouth slowly. He needed such an opportunity to speak and show himself.
"I guess I'm not talented enough. A true opera actor not only has to be hardworking, but also has excellent innate qualities. Voice, posture, coordination, etc. can't just be achieved through brute practice. There's also a hard-to-define sense of artistry. Even if I tried really hard, it was all in vain! I failed in all kinds of competitions at the time. Everyone said it was a waste of time. In the end, even my master couldn't help but say that since I had a sense of comedy, I might as well learn crosstalk. That's my opera master since I was a child!"
Even his own opera teacher chose to persuade him to change his career. Guan He was really discouraged at the time. What's more, he fought and failed repeatedly in important youth competitions like the Opera Challenge, and finally he was exhausted.
What about Ren Limeng? Ren Limeng, who had always won high places in various opera competitions...would she be as exhausted as he was then?
Thinking of this, Guan He tilted his head slightly and looked at Ren Limeng, who had a calm expression.
If Guan He had not met Ren Limeng in "Shan Hai", he would never have thought that the confident and perfect rising star in his memory would actually give up opera. Ren Limeng...why did she change her career?
This issue was something that Shen Xingzhi accidentally discussed with Ren Limeng when they were in college.
At that time, Ren Limeng was slightly stunned, then just looked at Shen Xingzhi with a smile, and said lightly, "Of course it's because I haven't met such an excellent and tacit partner like you, Senior Xingzhi! Senior Xingzhi, are you also secretly thanking God for meeting such a tacit host couple like me?"
Facing Chen Xingzhi's similarly indifferent eyes, Ren Limeng suddenly remembered this past event. The slightly stiff smile on her lips was a bit complicated. After listening to Guan He's explanation silently, Ren Limeng collected her thoughts and said, "Changing careers is really not easy, Brother Guan He, I admire you very much."
She didn't mention her past, but just said, "Our stories are too dull. Brother Xingzhi has disappointed you."
"If Li Meng and Guan He's story doesn't work, we can create a story scenario where opera actors change careers. Li Meng and Guan He can play the actors who change careers. Now, Xingzhi and I can play their past. This combination of reality and imagination should be very attractive!"
Chen Xi seemed to understand something, and his tone was a little excited as he looked at the other three people in the same team.
"That's fine...
Guan He responded to Chen Xi's suggestion with a little hesitation. As long as it was a stage for opera, he didn't have so many requirements.
Ren Limeng's expression was hard to read, but she didn't say anything to stop him. She was selfishly unwilling to do so. The topic of changing careers was like an old wound in her heart. The second stop was to return to Mei City, her troubled hometown. Changing careers while revisiting the old place was like rubbing salt into the wound.
But no matter how painful it is, it will pass.
If you don't bravely face your wounds, how can you truly heal them?
Ren Limeng didn't want to escape this time. Before going on the "Mountains and Seas" program, she had thought about coming to Mei City and facing the opera industry that she had fled in a hurry at the age of eighteen. There were countless intricacies and countless thoughts that could not be explained, but this time, she would solve them one by one and let the past be completely turned over from her life.
Moreover, intellectually, the stage setting proposed by Chen Xi was interesting and profound. Ren Limeng secretly clenched her hands into fists on both sides, but she finally just smiled and nodded, saying "OK" softly.
"The total daily travel expenses for this stop are 4,500 yuan. My idea is to divide 30% equally among everyone, and use the other 70% as a unified fund. Do you have any objections?"
Chen Xingzhi's eyes were mainly on Chen Xi. The travel expenses for the second stop were allocated according to the guests' rankings. As the first place, Chen Xingzhi directly received 2,000 yuan/day, the fourth place Chen Xi had 1,400 yuan/day, the eighth place Guan He only had 800 yuan/day, and the 13th place Ren Limeng had only 300 yuan/day.
Chen Xi naturally didn't care about this small amount of money. She agreed immediately and said cheerfully, "No problem, we're all on the same team."
Guan He also secretly nodded in approval of Shen Xingzhi's generosity. If everyone pooled their money together, it would be more efficient and would increase team cohesion. However, Shen Xingzhi alone had almost half of the team's funds, so he would be at a great disadvantage if they used the funds together.
"I'm taking advantage of everyone this way. Why don't we just do it like at the first stop and have everyone use it individually?"
Ren Limeng smiled frankly, and she looked at everyone with a calm and generous look. She did not feel inferior because she had the least funding, nor did she feel proud of Shen Xingzhi's proposal.
Shen Xingzhi's proposal was equivalent to 1,125 yuan per person per day, which had little impact on Chen Xi and Guan He, but she was taking advantage of him too much.
This trick of being lenient when taking advantage of others is silent but so clever!
Ren Limeng certainly hoped that the trip would be funded sufficiently, but since she had agreed to part ways with him, she absolutely could not succumb to his small "offensive" of money.
"There are many issues worth reflecting on at the first stop. This way, we can use the funds to rent a B&B together, which will make living more comfortable and more convenient for everyone to practice together."
Chen Xingzhi explained patiently. Ren Limeng certainly knew the many benefits of raising funds, but even if they didn't mention their private grudges, when the show was broadcast, the audience saw her, a nobody, taking advantage of it, and she would be scolded by netizens and become a hot topic. Ren Limeng tried to persuade Chen Xingzhi, "Brother Xingzhi, you're paying too much..."
However, Shen Xingzhi did not give Ren Limeng a chance to resist. He directly interrupted Ren Limeng's serious objection and said seriously, "Limeng, I am your captain."
Ren Limeng was slightly stunned and was speechless for half a second. Chen Xi beside her nodded and said, "Yes, Limeng, Brother Xingzhi is the captain. You can call me sister. We are a team and we will all make contributions. You don't have to think too much."
Guan He also smiled nonchalantly and advised, "We did take advantage of them, but we can run more errands for everyone. Li Meng, let's just serve Brother Xingzhi and Sister Chen Xi more! Thank you, Brother Xingzhi and Sister Chen Xi!"
Having said that, Ren Limeng knew that if she didn't accept it, she would be petty and ungrateful. She sighed softly and smiled, "Thank you, Captain and Sister Chen Xi. Just call us if you need anything!"
"We are all one team, no one is different from you."
Hearing Guan He and Ren Limeng using the word "we" at the same time, Shen Xingzhi frowned slightly, and his voice was calm and emotionless. Chen Xi also comforted him. Ren Limeng suddenly felt the faint "team spirit" of their newly formed team.
Guan He was the teammate she had confirmed in advance. Chen Xi was more easy-going than she had imagined. Shen Xingzhi was, after all, a good captain who could reflect and make progress. Ren Limeng was looking forward to their trip to Mei City. They were finally going home!
It was already three o'clock in the afternoon when they arrived in Meishi. Shen Xing and his group went directly to the first designated check-in point in Meishi - Meixiang Theater.
Meixiang Theater is the largest theater in Mei City. It has three famous troupes: Qianfang Troupe, Yunsheng Troupe, and Chuanhua Troupe. It has a long history and is magnificent. It has been in the central urban area of Mei City since Ren Limeng can remember.
The theater building consists of six floors. Its silver-white exterior presents the quaint shape of plum blossom branches. It blends classical charm with the fashion sense of modern design. It is a tranquil building in the bustling city and is a cultural landmark building in Meishi.
"National Huangmei Opera Lovers Art Week."
A spectacular red inflatable archway stood at the foot of the steps at the entrance of Meixiang Theater. Guan He looked up and read the large, flowing yellow characters in the center of the archway. He turned to look at Ren Limeng, who had remained silent since getting out of the car. "Limeng, it seems we've arrived at the perfect time."
"Well, Huangmei Week is a special cultural week that Mei City has established in recent years. During this week, Huangmei Opera enthusiasts from all over the country come to participate in various competitions and exhibitions in Mei City."
Ren Limeng took a deep breath, and her gaze shifted from the familiar yet unfamiliar magnificent building to the cameras that had been set up around her. She slowly tightened her already straight back, and followed the pace of Shen Xingzhi and others with firm and powerful steps. As the host, she took the initiative to introduce the Meixiang Theater to everyone.
"Meixiang Theater is a landmark of Meishi City and a representative theater for the inheritance of Huangmei Opera in China. It has a history of nearly a hundred years. I haven't been back here for many years, and it has changed a lot. The land on the left used to be an opera school. I even attended there for two years, but I heard it was demolished five years ago. Looking at all these high-rise buildings, I'm not used to it."
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