Chapter 296

At the head of the table sat a middle-aged man who looked like a director.

Liu Huan introduced.

"Su Meng, this is Xiang Zhiming, the chief director of the Spring Festival Gala. Just call him Director Xiang."

Director Xiang... Su Meng felt a bit numb.

The surname wasn't a problem, but Director Xiang... are you serious?

Xiang Zhiming was very enthusiastic, standing up to shake Su Meng's hand.

"Teacher Su, welcome, welcome."

"Hello, Director Xiang, it's an honor..." Su Meng politely said on instinct.

Hu Zhengyuan chuckled and interrupted him.

"Xiao Meng, everyone, let's not be too formal."

"Zhiming is also a graduate of the Capital Yinyuexue Academy."

"So for today's small meeting, just treat it as an alumni gathering."

Damn! Su Meng was instantly startled.

The Capital Yinyuexue Academy didn't show off, but its connections were truly formidable.

Xiang Zhiming's expression turned serious as he spoke earnestly.

"Teacher Su, since everyone here is one of us, I won't hide anything."

"The final rehearsal for the Spring Festival Gala is imminent. Originally, a song was already set for the program, but at this critical moment, something went wrong."

"An artist... well... collapsed, so his program was removed."

"We did have backup programs, but Teacher... oh, I mean Dean Qiao Tiancheng recommended these pieces to me."

"But now there's a problem: the program time is only a little over five minutes, and these pieces are all a bit too long."

"So which one to perform and how to adapt it still requires Teacher Su to step in."

Su Meng finally understood; no wonder he hadn't received the news in advance.

It turned out someone in the entertainment circle had collapsed.

Heh...

Wu Shanhong, the director of the Capital National Orchestra, chuckled and said.

"What's so hard to choose?"

"'Spring Festival Overture' is the piece most suitable for the Spring Festival Gala."

"Just let the senior brother lead the team up there to bring honor to our folk music."

Hu Qinghe, the director of the Radio Folk Orchestra, also nodded in agreement.

"Yes, time is tight and the task is heavy. If the senior brother doesn't step up, are we supposed to do it?"

"Besides, you at the Capital National Orchestra have practiced 'Spring Festival Overture' the most; if you don't go, who will?"

Xu Tianming waved his hands repeatedly.

"That won't do. Your piece is also very festive and very suitable for the Spring Festival Gala atmosphere."

"We should fight for it if we must; fighting back and forth won't affect our brotherhood."

"Oh, come on." Wu Shanhong directly gave him a roll of the eyes.

"We can't win anyway, so why waste this effort?"

"Exactly, exactly." Hu Qinghe added.

"If by any chance we beat you down, won't the senior sister tear us apart?"

Su Meng watched them push and pull from the side, finding it very interesting.

He had only heard before that people would pull all benefits into their own bowls; these few were actually pushing them away?

"Enough, enough." Hu Zhengyuan waved his hand to interrupt them.

"Zhiming, what is the opinion of your directing team?"

"Since none of us are outsiders, there's no need to hide anything."

Xiang Zhiming nodded and spoke earnestly.

"Our program team has also studied this issue."

"Our suggestion is... to use 'Spring Festival Overture'."

"But there is a problem: using this piece alone might not be lively enough."

"So I was thinking, why not have the three major folk orchestras join forces to create a grand scene?"

"However, the duration of the piece needs to be controlled."

Pfft~~~ Su Meng couldn't help but laugh.

"Director Xiang, I'll speak plainly too."

"The scale of this Spring Festival Gala... is getting bigger and bigger."

"Just for a folk music ensemble piece, do we really need two or three hundred people?"

"I'll just ask you one question."

"With so many of them, the instruments, chairs, and other things are not few."

"Your transition problem... how long do you want the hosts to drag it out?"

Huh? Xiang Zhiming was instantly stunned.

Su Meng continued speaking.

"I count as half a director; I also know a bit about the directors of these galas."

"Their stage setup takes at least five minutes, and teardown is about the same."

"Then for ten minutes, before and after, the cameras can't focus on the stage."

"What do you plan to do during this time?"

"Rely on the host to stall? Aren't you afraid of exhausting the host?"

"Of course, you could also replace it with segments like interviewing model workers."

"But doing so means you'll have to adjust your entire program flow and sequence."

"This is a case where pulling one hair moves the whole body!"

Xiang Zhiming collapsed into his chair, eyes staring blankly, his mind a complete void.

Previously, he had only felt these pieces suited the Spring Festival Gala and had been torn over how to get them on stage.

He never expected such a huge blunder to arise?

If not for Su Meng's reminder, this would have caused a major problem!

……

Su Meng's words also left the three folk music troupes stunned.

They too had been overjoyed at the chance to appear on the Spring Festival Gala.

Yet they had overlooked these most basic issues.

Hu Zhengyuan pondered for a moment, then spoke slowly.

"Xiao Meng, since you raised this issue, you must have an idea, right?"

Hmm? Xiang Zhiming suddenly raised his head, staring tightly at Su Meng.

"Teacher Su, we are all from Yinyuexue Academy, and we share a bond of incense."

"You can't just watch us die without helping."

Su Meng smiled and said lightly.

"It's simple, isn't it? You're just missing one song? Then just add another one, that's all."

Xiang Zhiming's face showed a look of inner conflict.

"That's easy to say, we do have backup programs."

"But these backup programs are ultimately a tier below."

Liu Huan nodded and added.

"The Spring Festival Gala stage is no ordinary one."

"The stage is too large; stage design and backup dancers must keep up, otherwise the visual effect will be too empty."

"At this critical juncture, it's definitely too late to prepare a new program."

"We can only look among those backup programs."