Chapter 34: Stepping on a New Journey

The next day, June 30th, Fang Xinghe slung his backpack, took his pen and paper, and stepped on the journey again.

Taking advantage of the fact that college students hadn't gone on vacation yet, he spent more than a day taking a green-skin train to the capital, Dijing, and then, with Wang Yali’s help, met Feng Yuanzheng at the People’s Art Theater.

"I know you, Little Fang, you are looking for me because..."

At this time, Feng Yuanzheng had not yet played the role that could be called a childhood shadow, but he had already walked a long way in performance art.

He was obsessed with performance, but not detached from society. Hearing Wang Yali’s introduction, he naturally knew that the boy in front of him was one of the two hottest genius writers this year.

Wang Yali watched from the side; she didn't understand either.

Fang Xinghe replied seriously: "Teacher Feng, I am very interested in performance art. I want to be your apprentice and learn the Grotowski actor training method."

"Eh?" Feng Yuanzheng was greatly surprised, "You actually know Grotowski?"

"I know a little."

Fang Xinghe nodded and explained: "I plan to study performance, so I found many related books to read, and thus became extremely interested in the Grotowski training method."

Feng Yuanzheng got into the spirit and took the initiative to invite him to talk in detail: "Let’s go, let’s find a quiet place and chat slowly."

The three of them asked for a small private room in the teahouse opposite the People’s Art Theater and began to communicate in depth.

"I’m not surprised that you want to study performance. I was also deeply obsessed with performance art because of a shallow reason."

Feng Yuanzheng observed Fang Xinghe carefully, with obvious scrutiny in his eyes.

"But I am very surprised that you actually chose Grotowski among all the systems. Can you tell me the reason?"

Fang Xinghe was about to speak, but Feng Yuanzheng added: "Tell me your real thoughts; this can also be considered the first test."

Even so, Fang Xinghe didn't need to consider and could answer immediately.

"In my understanding, the Stanislavski system focuses more on training in lines, expressions, realism, and belief, relatively ignoring the body, but Grotowski is the opposite; Grotowski training pays more attention to the development of physicality."

"Although both emphasize experience, there are obvious differences."

"Grotowski uses extreme training to conduct extreme spiritual experience. Therefore, I personally think that Grotowski can better tap into an actor’s potential, enabling us to obtain stronger performance explosive power."

"I have a foolish opinion formed through simple thinking: Stanislavski and Grotowski possess underlying identity; the two are not only not contradictory, but can also form complementarity."

"I hope to become a top actor, so I am delusional about merging Chinese and Western. Stanislavski can be learned at any time, but Grotowski only has you as a successor in China, so I couldn't wait to find you now and plan to conduct Grotowski training in advance."

"Good! Very good!"

Feng Yuanzheng watched very carefully—he wasn't listening to what Fang Xinghe was saying, but observing the boy’s demeanor.

The result made him very satisfied, and his joy was revealed.

"Your judgment on the identity of the two is very spiritual. Although domestic scholars are not very willing to admit it, the Stanislavski system is indeed an open, unfinished system. Later generations have merged and supplemented a lot of content on his basis."

Speaking of this, Teacher Feng’s expression was a bit lonely and a bit indignant.

"Our domestic colleges have been holding onto Stanislavski’s early theories and won't let go. Now they are getting more and more biased. Not only is the theory stagnant, but performance teaching is also all over the place."

"Shouting about the experience school, teaching the performance school, muddled and using whatever is practical."

"I don't mean that practicality is bad. As long as you can perform the effect, everything is good, but when your theory and your practice are misaligned, you are actually very difficult to perform at your best, full of craftsmanship..."

"Forget it, don't mention others. Your understanding is very good, deeper than 90% of performance students. I am willing to teach you."

Feng Yuanzheng couldn't be more satisfied with Fang Xinghe. Being able to say those words at 14, if he isn't a genius, who is?

Especially that sentence about performance explosive power, it was truly praised to his heart, and he would feel beautiful whenever he thought of it.

"You won't be disappointed, Teacher Feng."

Fang Xinghe raised his eyebrows slightly, and a kind of madness rushed to his face, but he was crazy without arrogance. He stood up and bowed respectfully, performing a very rare Taoist bowing ritual.

Feng Yuanzheng was very fresh: "Eh? Where did you learn this action?"

"During the winter vacation, I practiced martial arts at the Wudang Mountain Taoist Martial Arts Troupe, and the teachers taught it."

"Whoa, you have learned a wide range of things," Feng Yuanzheng’s eyes lit up, "However, practicing martial arts is a good thing, which can effectively enhance your physical control, and you can save a lot of trouble when training in the future."

The new teacher didn't mention it, so Fang Xinghe had to take the initiative to ask: "Teacher, how is the tuition calculated?"

"What tuition!"

Feng Yuanzheng waved his hand vigorously with dissatisfaction, his expression unhappy: "When I was studying in Germany, my teacher even reimbursed my living expenses. My ability is average now, but I can still afford your food and housing."

"Don't, Teacher Feng," Wang Yali finally spoke, "Let me manage Little Fang’s life, otherwise it would be too troublesome for you."

However, Fang Xinghe refused everything.

"I will live in the hotel opposite the People’s Art Theater, it’s convenient."

When the two saw that his self-esteem was so strong, they didn't insist anymore, but Wang Yali eventually played the host and treated the two to a meal of Donglaishun instant-boiled mutton.

During the period, a very interesting little episode occurred—the girl at the next table recognized Fang Xinghe at a glance, even though he had already dyed his hair back to black.

The girl wow-ed, and then looked at Fang Xinghe again and again, again and again... just didn't dare to move.

In the end, it was Fang Xinghe who took the initiative to smile at her: "Do you want an autograph?"

"Ah?" The girl was stunned by the surprise, and it took a long time for her to nod vigorously: "Mm, mm! Want, want, want!"

Her whole body was trembling, which was so exaggerated.

The girl was obviously older than Fang Xinghe, about 15 or 16 years old, and her parents next to her were dressed appropriately and had outstanding temperament. It seems they were among the first batch of rich people in China.

Maybe it was really fate, the book she finally took out of her schoolbag was actually the May issue of *Sprout*. On the cover, Fang Xinghe’s calm arrogance formed a sharp contrast with his current gentleness.

Fang Xinghe took her Parker fountain pen and asked simply: "Name?"

"Ah? Ah! Wan Baobao! It’s the two characters for baby..."

The girl was inexplicably shy. Fang Xinghe felt a little familiar when he heard the name, but didn't think much about it, and carefully signed the first TO signature for an outsider in his life.

To Wan Baobao:

Ten thousand colors, blooming into treasure, wish you spiritual freedom, noble will, live into the best self—Fang Xinghe.

When he put down the pen, the little girl looked like she was about to faint, covering her mouth, blushing, looking like she didn't dare to breathe, otherwise she might scream at any time.

"Okay."

Fang Xinghe handed the publication and the fountain pen back to her and smiled: "Go back and eat well, thank you for your support."

The girl sat back in her seat in a daze, and basically didn't move her chopsticks much after that, secretly peeking at Fang Xinghe the whole time.

Wang Yali joked: "Look at my brother’s charm!"

Feng Yuanzheng sighed: "Your acting path in the future... is so narrow that it’s unbearable to look at. Forget it, be prepared to suffer great bitterness, and don't quit halfway."

"That can't be," Fang Xinghe was full of confidence, "You just come, it can't be more bitter than practicing martial arts, right?"

Feng Yuanzheng smiled meaningfully and didn't say anything.

The next day, Fang Xinghe finally understood in pain why no one learned Grotowski...

However, he also truly realized that Grotowski is indeed a treasure, and this trip was the most correct one. ===== CHAPTER 35 =====