The passenger on the sea had a ruddy complexion and spoke with a strong voice. He was much more energetic than the young man, Shang Yechu.
The atmosphere subtly shifted the moment the passengers arrived. The extras' reactions were less of surprise and more of... tension.
It's as if the main event is just about to begin.
The old man was going to get his makeup and clothes done, so he didn't have time to talk to the others much. However, as he passed Shang Yechu, he paused slightly and glanced at her.
Shang Yechu had been eating the first course of the day all morning, so her complexion was naturally not good. Although she was wearing a smile, it was clearly forced.
The passenger's expression turned serious: "Pay attention!"
"Yes!" This time, Shang Yechu's smile was much more genuine. "Hello, Teacher Hai."
The passenger stopped talking and went straight backstage.
The Ruguan Grand Theater was originally the Guanyun Teahouse during the Republic of China era, which served as an important propaganda base for the anti-aggression war, and many artists held benefit performances there. Although it has been renovated several times, it has retained most of its original appearance. This is also why the film crew chose this location for shooting.
The wait for the passengers to get their makeup done was long. Zheng Bohan, holding the script, walked up to Shang Yechu.
His expression was very unnatural, even somewhat awkward.
Shang Yechu's deep eyes swept over Zheng Bohan's long face, and she smiled: "Editor Zheng, is there something you need?"
Zheng Bohan coughed awkwardly and handed the script to Shang Yechu.
Just as Shang Yechu was about to reach out to take it, Zheng Bohan suddenly pulled his hand back.
This is?
Shang Yechu didn't urge him, and tilted her head slightly: "Teacher Zheng?"
With a swift movement, Xu Hanwen snatched the script from Zheng Bohan's hands and squeezed between Zheng Bohan and Shang Yechu, saying frankly, "Yechu, I criticized Lao Zheng during the two days you were there. The script was too vague, which was indeed not conducive to your performance."
Shang Yechu looked panicked: "No, no, no, Director! It's my fault... It's not Teacher Zheng's fault..."
Xu Hanwen pressed Shang Yechu back into her chair and sat down opposite her. He patiently said, "Old Zheng worked day and night for two days revising it. Here, this is the final version."
As he spoke, Xu Hanwen pushed the script in his hand in front of Shang Yechu.
Shang Yechu picked it up and flipped through it. After only a couple of glances, she was shocked.
Xu Hanwen observed Shang Yechu's expression, "How are you? Are you under pressure?"
Shang Yechu did not answer Xu Hanwen, but instead glanced at Zheng Bohan.
For some reason, Zheng Bohan turned his head away after being swept by Shang Yechu's eyes.
When Xu Hanwen spoke, he was like a smiling tiger, completely unlike the fierce look he had when he scolded Shang Yechu: "This time, the production team paid a great price to invite Teacher Hai. It's the first time that Lao Zheng has been able to revise the script on the spot for a certain actor's personal situation."
Shang Yechu's fingers, which were stroking the pages, paused slightly.
Zheng Bohan suddenly coughed.
Xu Hanwen smiled and said, "Teacher Hai's schedule is very tight, you only have half a day. If you still can't pass this time, all the hard work of the entire crew will be in vain."
"Have you shown this notebook to Teacher Xue and the others?" Shang Yechu asked, seemingly changing the subject. "Isn't it a bit rushed?"
Xu Hanwen paused his tapping on the table, seemingly surprised that Shang Yechu would ask such a question.
"Don't worry," Xu Hanwen said calmly, "I've already shown it to them. We'll go through the scene once in a bit. It's okay if you don't pass the first time; the main thing is for you to get familiar with the new script."
Zheng Bohan looked up and saw Shang Yechu staring intently at Xu Hanwen, her eyes as clear as a still, icy lake, as if she could see right through him.
She didn't see anything!
She can see everything!
Despite such gazes, Xu Hanwen remained calm and fearless, even offering an encouraging smile: "Don't put too much pressure on yourself."
Xu Hanwen also knew that she could see.
He simply doesn't care.
Zheng Bohan understands his senior colleague, Xu Hanwen. Xu Hanwen has always had a ruthless desire to sculpt promising actors, completely disregarding their inner thoughts. Psychological trauma, mental state, and physical injury are, in Xu Hanwen's eyes, things only the weak care about.
That's why Xu Hanwen's highest praise for an actor is to constantly torment them. If one day he suddenly abandons an actor, it means he has completely lost interest in them—just like that bunch of idiots in "The Legend of Qingyun."
What about Ye Chu? What is Ye Chu thinking?
How will Ye Chu view the joint suppression led by Xu Hanwen and involving the entire crew? And how will she view Xu Hanwen's indifference and contempt towards her?
So how should one view their teacher who aided and abetted wrongdoing?
Zheng Bohan suddenly sighed and left.
-----------
The gong sounds, and the curtain rises.
The magnificent Guanyun Teahouse.
The stage was spacious, with two large vermilion pillars standing in front of it; a large couplet was inscribed on the pillars. The audience was thronging the seats, like a large sieve holding colorful red beans, green beans, and black beans.
The waiter, carrying a tea tray, rummaged through the crowd, sifting through beans. The sour smell of sweat came from the salted beans, the fragrance of osmanthus-scented hair oil came from steamed red beans, and the stench of money was unique to mung beans. The sounds of pouring tea, drinking water, cracking melon seeds, smacking lips, grinding teeth... the whole place was noisy and chaotic.
The theater's pillars are also called "pillar-eating pillars" because these two pillars often obstruct the view and block the view of the actors on stage. However, the wife of the Ninth Bureau Chief, who sat in the best seat in the main stalls, obviously did not have this problem.
While cracking sunflower seeds, Mrs. Lu laughed at Li Yiming, "Old Lu asked me to invite the leading actors from Guanyun Tower to perform at our house. What's the point? Going to the opera is about enjoying the lively atmosphere. A cold, deserted place is like a funeral!"
Li Yiming is an imposter, and Mrs. Lu knows this. No matter how cunning Lu Huaizhang is, he can't hide it from his wife to avoid misunderstandings. Therefore, Li Yiming doesn't need to pretend to be a refined lady in front of Mrs. Lu.
Li Yiming cracked the sunflower seeds with a loud cracking sound, a piece of sunflower seed shell still stuck to the corner of his mouth.
"Yes! Before, when I passed by Guanyun Tower, I could only squeeze through the crowd outside and hear the noise. It was only after I came with you, Godmother, that I entered this area for the first time!"
As Li Yiming spoke, he touched the table and chairs beside him with delight, "To be able to sit in such a good seat..."
"Xiao Li, what did I tell you?" Mrs. Lu's face darkened. "Even in public, don't mention your past! Walls have ears!"
Li Yiming stuck out his tongue: "It's so messy here, even if you have ears, you can't hear anything."
Mrs. Lu glared at him: "If you keep doing this, I'm not bringing you along!"
"Alright, alright, godmother, spare my life!" Li Yiming bowed and begged for mercy.
Mrs. Lu smiled again: "Alas, Guanyun Tower is not what it used to be. The war wiped out everyone. Now, who can even squeeze outside?"
Li Yiming responded, casually picked up the teacup specially provided for distinguished guests by Guanyunlou, held it up to his eyes, and examined the tiny characters written on the lid: "Hey, what are these characters written on the lid?"
"Hmm?" Mrs. Lu was so engrossed in the performance on stage that she didn't hear what Li Yiming asked.
"It looks pretty good, but what about people?" Li Yiming leaned closer to the cup lid.
"You are a bystander, and I am just a participant in the play."
A sound pierced the noisy air. Li Yiming looked up and saw that Di Ting was standing in front of him.
Di Ting revealed a sinister smile: "Don't you recognize Secretary Li?"
Li Yiming choked, then waved his hand and put the teacup back on the table: "Of course I recognize it. It's just that the characters are too small for me to see clearly."
Lu Huaizhang followed Di Ting up. In a place like a theater, standing upright and blocking people's view is a big no-no, except when cheering; you're likely to get your shoes thrown at you.
Director Lu has always been approachable and considerate of the people's sentiments, so he wisely didn't stand there for too long.
"You, get out of here." Lu Huaizhang gestured with his chin toward his wife.
Mrs. Lu was baffled: "What are you doing! I still want to watch the opera!"
Lu Huaizhang raised an eyebrow: "It's important business. There's a seat over there, I'll leave it for you."
When her husband showed that expression, it meant there was no room for negotiation. Therefore, although Mrs. Lu was very reluctant, she still moved to the new house.
"Hey, Madam, please take this with you," Di Ting said with a smile.
Mrs. Lu turned around and saw Di Ting holding a fruit plate. Melon seeds, peanuts, and delicate fruits were piled up in a small mound. It was the very plate that Li Yiming had just been enjoying.
Mrs. Lu rolled her eyes and said irritably, "Leave it there!"
He listened silently, his hand still stubbornly raised in the air. The heavy wooden plate seemed weightless in his hands. His single eye gleamed with an eerie light.
Mrs. Lu felt a chill run down her spine from that eye's gaze. Just then, a curse came from behind her: "What are you poking around for! Is someone in your house dead or lying around like a corpse?!"
Mrs. Lu was startled, glared at Di Ting, took the fruit plate and left.
Lu Huaizhang sat down in the seat his wife had just occupied, touched his nose, and gave a wry smile. It seemed he wouldn't have a moment's peace at home.
Li Yiming crouched down and stood up, but Di Ting, quick as a flash, grabbed her arm and asked, "Where are you going, Secretary Li?"
Li Yiming said, bewildered, "I'm going over there with my godmother. I'll offer you both your seats."
Di Ting smiled faintly, then said, "No need."
Having said that, Di Ting glanced lightly at the spectator sitting next to Li Yiming. The spectator, who was listening to the opera, suddenly felt a flash of cold light, and when he looked down, he saw only a dark gun muzzle.
"Brother, keep quiet." Di Ting revealed a row of gleaming white teeth. "It's official business."
The onlookers shuddered and obediently stepped down to make way for a more capable person.
Surrounded by Lu Huaizhang and Di Ting, Li Yiming seemed to realize something was wrong: "Director? Did you and Team Leader Cui need something from me?"
Lu Huaizhang cleared his throat: "It's nothing. What's this play about? Who's that on stage?"
"Guan Yu's Solo Journey to the Meeting of the Single-Handed Swords," Li Yiming said with great enthusiasm, "My godmother said this is the most popular actor in the north, called something like 'Hai Zhongtian.' This is his first time performing at Guanyun Tower. You're in luck!"
Di Ting smiled and replied, "The director is in a bad mood today, so he came to relax."
"In a bad mood?" Li Yiming glanced at Lu Huaizhang. "Isn't the director in a bad mood every day?"
Di Ting: "..."
Lu Huaizhang knew all too well that trying to reason with Li Yiming through subtle hints or indirect approaches wouldn't work. Li Yiming seemed to have some kind of hearing problem; he could never quite grasp the unspoken meaning in the world.
"Hmm. The two underground party members we arrested today are finished." Lu Huaizhang's face was expressionless, but his teeth were clenched tightly. "Damn it—what a fucking bad luck!"
"I see." Li Yiming nodded, his eyes fixed on the senior student on the stage.
Lu Huaizhang gave the blind man a flirtatious look, and could only wink at Di Ting: Do you want to continue asking?
Di Ting nodded. Lu Huaizhang had no choice but to reluctantly say:
"What a pity! Those two were quite important. What were their code names again?"
Di Ting continued, "One is called Jiang Feng, and the other is called Jiang Shui."
“Yes, yes, yes, the river breeze and the river water.” Lu Huaizhang rubbed his teacup, glancing sideways at Li Yiming. “If these two confess, the Red bandits in Ruguan could be uncovered in great numbers!”
The old man on stage opened his mouth and sang loudly and passionately, his voice piercing the clouds and splitting rocks.
"What a beautiful river view!"
Li Yiming seemed mesmerized, his eyes glued to the screen: "Oh, oh."
Lu Huaizhang was completely at a loss and gave Di Ting a look that said, "Go ahead."
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