Shang XiRui in his best effort gnawed on his two fingernails in the car, and spit out after. Cheng FengTai was afraid of dirtying his car, and threw a bunch of keys to Shang XiRui. Shang Xirui used the key rib to shave his ten nails.
He knew that as a teacher, he has to pay attention to his grooming in front of the students. Cheng FengTai teased him all the way and asked him: " What class will you be facilitating? What should you do if you want to write on the blackboard? Can you even write? "
Shang XiRui grunted as an answer. When he arrived, he didn't say goodbye to Cheng FengTai. He threw the key heavily into Cheng FengTai's arms. Like throwing a grenade, Cheng FengTai's chest hurt to death.
He didn't feel that Shang XiRui was upset, only that the actor's movements were overwhelming. He went back to find Fan Lian and the others to discuss the details of the meeting. Chang ZhiXin seemed to have been mentally prepared not to make use of Shang XiRui and also did not show any expression of despair.
Even if Cheng FengTai didn't have the intention to leave and said confidently: " Shang Lao Ban is rushing to the birthday of Xinxi and Hou Yukui. It's really a bit too busy. But don't worry, elder brother, I will gather those whom I can call in Shuiyun Tower. I will also bring in 2 good female performers. I shall also invite my sister in, in order to grant you the honor of catching her. "
******
Chang ZhiXin's boss came to Peiping for Commander Cao. If Commander Cao's wife would be present, the reason wouldn't be afraid of losing to him but rather wanting to give radiate her presence more.
Chang ZhiXin is not a person who's eloquent especially to clever people. He thanked Cheng FengTai for his hand and personally poured him a glass of wine and the two of them had a toast. They talked about the full entrustment of authority.
When the wine glass arrived in front of Fan Lian, he turned around and said with a smile: "Cousin, you. I won't thank you." After drinking a glass of wine, he coughed hard. Both Cheng FengTai and Fan Lian could see that Chang ZhiXin's work was exhausting him hard.
******
Shang XiRui wandered around on the campus of Yenching University. It was already the end of October. The lush green grass and trees are already gone, leaving only one lake that was still green.
Shang XiRui walked around the garden a few times, but couldn't find the classroom. He became anxious. Du Qi's temper was surely offended but he still wants to eat and stay alive! Suddenly, he heard a voice behind him: "XiRui! Why are you here?" Turning his head to take a look and it was Sheng ZiYun.
When Sheng ZiRun saw Shang XiRui here, his heart was agitated. He almost thought that Shang Xirui was here to come and find him! Wanting to probe if Shang XiRui is here for Du Qi's class. Sheng ZiYun immediately concealed his disappointment nd whispered: " Professor Du's class has already started, I will take you there. " Then he brought Shang XiRui to In Du Qi's class and sat down in the last row. This is not his elective course either, it's because he just wants to look at Shang XiRui.
******
Shang XiRui was a little late. Du Qi stared at him behind his eyeglass and slid on him ferociously. Then, he gently twitched his mouth, draws his eyes lightly and turned his head and smiled at the students: " Although I am a teacher with solid theoretical knowledge, however, I lack stage knowledge. Today I have invited a Beijing opera performer with rich stage experience, Shang XiRui Lao Ban. We request Shang Lao Ban to tell you what stage art is! Everyone let's welcome him! "
Pulling Shang XiRui to the podium, he said in an ear to him: " Follow along the topic I gave you! " Du Qi stood aside, holding his arms and winked at him with a smile.
The students sitting underneath have known for a long time that their teacher Du Qi wrote playbooks for Shang XiRui and they often race to listen to new plays, copied dramas and wrote their experience in the essays as homework. Shang XiRui recognize many of their faces.
Today, he stood in a different place but it was also kind of similar on and off the stage. Shang XiRui was like a captured prey, unable to say a word, his face flushed a little bit and he forgot all the questions Du Qi had prepared for him!
Everyone looked up and waited for a long time but didn't see him make any sound and then they whispered and giggled. Du Qi stepped forward and pulled at his sleeve: " What's the matter with you! When you are on stage performing, you are flawless!"
Shang XiRui was still aggrieved, thinking how the podium could be compared to the stage, and whispered quietly: " But here it doesn't allow me to sing and talk at the same time! "
Du Qi cleared his throat immediately and eloquently pulled out a preface to classical literature. Then he picked up his flute while Shang XiRui sang a poem by Tang Xian Zu. Under the same song, he also sang a sections created by Du Qi himself.
Shang XiRui eased up his throat, felt relaxed and everything was smooth sailing. Du Qi asked the students to ask Shang XiRui questions. The students were no more than four or five years younger than Shang XiRui, so they didn't care about his popularity as bright as a star. They became lively as soon as they started the conversation.
A student asked him whether he considered acting or singing more important. Shang XiRui put one hand on the podium and talked egoistically: " I think when you go on stage to perform. The audience will take a look at you first and listen next. If they can feel that you are a filled with emotions as a person, even if you missed one or two tunes or grab the board, it's not a big deal. When the emotions are full, the voice is full of vigor, people are able to like this character ! Every sentence is well-rounded and well-defined so it will sound good like a recording. Although, it may not be a good thing to be on the stage, you can easily be bored. "
A student below the podium asked: " So, was there a time when you are full of emotions but sang out of tune? "
Shang XiRui said: " I don't have one, I can take care of it. If I can sing it well, why not sing it well? If I have to give up one end for the other, everything is because I didn't practice well at home. "
Sheng ZiYun sat and nodded, he felt very learned from this class. His heart was moved and respected Shang XiRui more.
Du Qi wrote the words "Essence and Spirit" on the blackboard, tapping on the blackboard he said: "Shang Lao Ban said it well. It is not just going to the stage to sing, any form of art in this world, even your writing, it all comes down to the three energies of *Jing Qi Shen*. When I read your articles, I don't like to pick faults in the words. Is there anyone who can induce the *Jing Qi Shen* in writing? In here, is there anyone who is first class! Of course, in addition to *Jing Qi Shen*, if words and sentences are to be refined as well, you will truly be superior! "
Shang XiRui nodded and said to the students: " Your words and phrases are ours to sing, we have to rely on hard work! "
The student asked: " How can we obtain *Jing Qi Shen*? "
Shang XiRui said loudly: " *Jing Qi Shen* can't be practiced, so you have to count on your master or a gentleman to enjoy life!"
This is a slang used inside the Pear Garden which bewildered the students. The students then were thinking: *Didn't Shang XiRui's ancestors not deal with their students? Can they cross the line in their job to earn a reward?*
Du Qi immediately added: " What Shang Lao Ban meant is that one's energy depends on contemplation and comprehension. It is a kind of accumulation. "
******
The students present nodded their heads and felt that they benefited a lot. This lesson could have continued peacefully until the end. But Du Qi didn't know what went wrong, Shang XiRui was strange as he was very excited and discussed with the students!
Shang XiRui said without a doubt that the impact of innate skill or talent is greater than anything else and those who grew late are mediocre. The students didn't buy it, they relied on familiarizing with the classics, and offered many examples of late bloomers to refute him.
Shang XiRui didn't recognize the writers and didn't know how their articles were done until he heard "Journey to the West". "Journey to the West" is well-known. When he was a child, "Nao Tian Palace" and "Nao Long Palace" were his masterpieces.
"Sand Bridge Practice Farewell" is the proud verse of his adopted father, Shang JuZhen. It wasn't impossible to say that the book wasn't beautiful. After thinking for a while, he thought of a rebuttal point for himself, and said: " That's because Wu ChenGen was fascinated by the examiner in the early years and he was late in writing about the Journey to the West. If he started writing early, he would've become a cornerstone! "
******
A few female students below smiled softly, making Shang XiRui blush. The male student looked at him shyly and was too embarrassed to argue any more.
Du Qi took off his glasses and said: " Well, that's all for today's class. Next week, you will need to hand in a three-thousand-word notebook. Let's end the class early today! Class President come over. "
Du Qi explained to the class president. In fact over the other side, there have long been female students enthusiastically surrounding Shang XiRui. Chatting and asking this and that. They also went and unfolded Shang XiRui's folding fan without asking him, in order to take a closer look.
Sheng ZiYun has a bellyfull of things to say to Shang XiRui but he didn't say anything now. Du Qi finished speaking with te class president and sent the female students away. He smiled and grasped Shang XiRui's wrist: " You're very good Rui Ge-Er, I called you to class but you came to quarrel with my students. Now, you dare to hook up with the female students. "
Afterwards, Shang XiRui also felt that he was too uncomfortable. Although he himself was not mature enough, he looked down on those immature young people. What is there to argue with these little girls? Too naive! He is Shang Da Lao Ban! He smiled embarrassedly: " I just look down on them! "
Du Qi grabbed him, walked out and said: "Let's go for a walk by the lake, I have something to talk to you about. "
Both of them are slender, walking side by side romantically by the lake and were whispering. With the sunset's reflection on the lake, the scene was picturesque as they look like a beautiful same-sex couple from a distance. They fit each other perfectly.
Sheng Ziyun followed them from afar and stopped to look at them for a while. When Shang XiRui left just now, he didn't even stop and say hello to him as if she had forgotten him at all. Anyway, no matter who Shang XiRui is with, he won't definitely be with him. He has no weight in Shang XiRui's heart!
Sheng ZiYun felt he was stabbed at the heart upon seeing this, wiped a tear, turned around and left.
******
Cheng Fengtai although is an innate scoundrel, he is uniquely good, he has never failed his friends and is quite righteous.
Zhou XiangYun was inexperienced in singing at events. Cheng FengTai was worried about him. Every day when he came to see Shang XiRui, he would spend more than half of his time to listen to Zhou Xiangyun to practice two sentences.
Cheng FengTai stared at another actor so intently, Shang XiRui couldn't stand it! After touching his head and pinching his ears, he interrupted Cheng Fengtai and then he simply sang with Zhou XiangYun's opera lines.
As soon as he opened his throat, it was like a golden phoenix flapping its wings in front of a reed chicken. Zhou XiangYun was immediately overshadowed and wasn't heard. Cheng FengTai caught his hand, patted it and smiled: " Shang Lao Ban, don't make trouble, we are here to listen to Xiao ZhouZi's performance! "
Shang XiRui fumed: " I made trouble?! "
Cheng FengTai immediately held Shang XiRui's mouth while continuously looking at Zhou XiangYun! Shang XiRui got more angry that he didn't say a word. Afterwards, Cheng FengTai teased him, but he ignored him. Since Shang XiRui's character is sometimes awkward, Cheng FengTai didn't take his response seriously.
When Cheng FengTai listened to Zhou XiangYun's play, everything sounded so similar that he couldn't tell any difference. There was no show in Shuiyun Tower that afternoon, so the actors who arrived early backstage gathered together to eat snacks.
******
Cheng FengTai went together with Fan Lian. Fan Lian knew about the opera. Zhou XiangYun was directed by him to sing this and that and sang for a very long time. Still haven't yet chosen the repertoire to be sung for the event.
Cheng FengTai smiled to Yuan Lan and said: " Senior Sister, you must also string it out. "
Yuan Lan had already faintly sensed Shang XiRui's jealousy at this time, frightened as she waved her hand. In her mind she said: *This old lady wouldn't dare to offend our boss' trade. This old lady still has to hang around here. *
Yuan Luan responded to Cheng FengTai: " How can I do it! I've not been feeling well for a while, I still haven't taken the An Palace's Cow Yellow Pill!"
Cheng Fengtai did not force her to sing. Then Fan Lian finally chose a two-fold play, Zhou XiangYun's most popular 《zhāo jūn chū sāi》and《chāi tóu fèng》"Zhaojun Out of the Fortress" and "Phoenix's Hairpin".
Cheng FengTai asked Shang XiRui with a smile: " Shang Lao Ban, What do you think if we were to use these two pieces for the event? Is it auspicious or not? "
Shang XiRui didn't bat his eyes and said coldly, " It's not good, just let it be. "
Zhou XiangYun looked at Shang XiRui nervously. Shang XiRui has always admired his play very much. Now, he don't know what this tone means. He suspects that he didn't sing well. Shang XiRui is embarrassed and is abandoning him. Zhou XiangYun felt uneasy.
Cheng FengTai smiled and said: " Okay, since Shang Lao Ban said so, then it's set. " He continued: " When the time comes, Shuiyin Tower can avoid these two pieces. Shang Lao Ban borrowed two good outfits for Xiao Zhouzi to put it on, right?" Cheng FengTai said that he actually saw the top of Zhou XiangYun's costume that was going to be worn that day and gestured a costume to be brought over to Zhou XiangYun.
Shang XiRui suddenly frowned, stared at Zhou XiangYun fiercely and let out a groan. Poor Zhou XiangYun, who has always been at the mercy of others and was never a master himself. Zhou XiangYun was actually eaten up by jealousy. He vaguely understood that he had made a mess this time and called on the boss softly.
Shang XiRui waved his hand to stop him and ignored him. Turning around to eat snacks, he felt a great deal of hatred. He grunted and groaned with his spoon scraping the bottom of the bowl. As Zhou XiangYun listened, he felt every bit was like a scratch on the back of his neck, it was tremendously cold and hostile. It was so cruel.
******
Yuan Lan looked at the situation interestingly and she then looked at Shang XiRui with a subtle smile. Fan Lian pondered on Yuan Lan's subtle smile and intently stabbed Cheng FengTai with his elbow. Cheng FengTai was still checking out the costumes, unaware of the actors' thoughts.
Fan Lian lowered his head and whispered: " Don't blame me for not telling you, the grandmaster opera singer seems to be jealous! "
Cheng FengTai turned his head to look at Shang XiRui and saw that he ate a bowl of dim sum like a pig, as if everything were as usual: " He is jealous? Who is he jealous of? "
Fan Lian sighed and said, "Pretend to be confused with me! Don't search for your demise! "
Cheng FengTai felt that Shang XiRui had no reason to be jealous. He never took care of Zhou XiangYun preferrably. It was because Zhou XiangYun did not have experience singing in events, and was afraid that he would make a mistake.
Cheng FengTai only gave a hand to check the situation. To put it bluntly, he did this all for Chang ZhiXin. But his purpose of assisting can't be revealed. Cheng FengTai thought about it, walked to Shang XiRui's side and whispered to him: " Shang Lao Ban, I just helped Xiao ZhouZi prepare for the event and you are jealous! "
**********************************************************************************************
Finally one part of the chapter is done! This contains more words than the rest of the other parts.... It's like Du Qi's homework to his students containing 3000 words. This has 3141 words. Ohmygosh. I probably need another spot for my laptop as after 3 hours of translating and editing, my shoulder is frozen.
Thank you for making this Winter Begonia #1 for the category of republican. I am deeply honored and thankful. It's my simple joy.
I might rest for a day or 2 as my right shoulder is really frozen.
I love you all XOXO
- JiaLing2 (嘉玲儿)
- 拼了老命 idiom literally translates to: risk one's old bones which means: do one's best in spite of one's age or use your best efforts to accomplish one thing.
- 大包大揽 idiom literally translates to: undertake it all which means: that you are confident and can bear the responsibility.
- 精气神 (jīng qì shén) this means essence or vitality , energy and spirit of the human body.
- 蕊哥儿 Rui Ge-Er is Du Qi's nickname for Shang XiRui
- 芦花鸡 Reed chicken, credits to the owner of the photo
- 安宫牛黄丸 literally translates to: An palace's cattle yellow pill which is a medicine to ease the mind and treat a sore throat. Although the history behind this is that: 993 years ago, Angong Niuhuang Pills cost 10,000 yuan but experts say 99% are fake drugs. LOL!!!