Chapter 82: Pan Jinlian Oh

The news that Cheng Chen would participate in the Yang Year Spring Festival Gala was everywhere.

In fact, from certain perspectives, Cheng Chen's song "Wan Jiang" is absolutely nuclear-level by today's standards.

Like Fu Desheng's "Zhi Xin Ai Ren" and Mao Ning's "Tao Sheng Yi Jiu," they are artists who live off one song for life.

Many people were speculating and analyzing the likelihood of Cheng Chen appearing on the Spring Festival Gala.

For performers on the Gala's musical and dance segments, political reliability, appearance, and vocal skill are most important, with roughly five requirements:

Requirement one: Participate in the CCTV Youth Singer Grand Prix; singers who win the competition receive an invitation to the Gala and a chance to undergo review.

Requirement two: Recommendations from party and government agencies.

Requirement three: The most popular film and television actor of the year.

Requirement four: Familiar groups are prioritized, such as Blue Sky Kindergarten or Shaolin Taigou Martial Arts School.

Requirement five: High popularity, works that align with traditional culture, positive image, and innovative content.

Most importantly, do not negotiate conditions with the Spring Festival Gala production team.

In the future, CCTV once invited Dao Lang in a medley format, but he wanted to perform the full single, thus losing the opportunity.

Meeting any one of these five conditions gives a chance to appear on the Spring Festival Gala stage.

Cheng Chen now satisfies condition five; this time "Wan Jiang" has gained official favor, and with Tianhai acting as intermediary, condition two is not impossible to fulfill.

But regardless of how the outside world analyzes, Cheng Chen continues acting in his own dramas, though he has also communicated with Wang Tianxiao about filming the MV for "Wan Jiang."

Since "Wan Jiang" has now received official recognition, he must make corresponding preparations.

Cheng Chen has no intention of revising the MV's theme; he will directly use the content from the future.

Landmarks of Yunnan and Guizhou—the Great Wall, Fanjingshan, Wanfenglin, Sancha River, Huangguoshu Waterfall, Wumeng Grassland, Qianhu Miao Village—are displayed one by one, showcasing the nation's magnificent landscapes.

This is an extremely heavy and complex task.

Of course, Cheng Chen only needs to appear in the segment filmed at the Great Wall; with good weather, it will take only two or three days to complete.

As for the remaining aerial footage, leave it to the filming crew.

After assigning all tasks, Cheng Chen threw himself fully into his work.

……

That day, Cheng Chen had no scenes, so he squatted aside watching Hou Yong act.

Aside from his scandalous personal life, his acting is outstanding.

And his entry into this industry was somewhat humorous.

That year, Hou Yong's old classmate asked him to accompany him to register for the Jiangsu Drama Performance Academy.

Hou Yong, intrigued, immediately agreed.

But unintentionally, while his classmates all failed to get in,

Hou Yong, as a mere escort, was admitted into the Drama Technology major.

Thus, at age twenty-something, Hou Yong resigned from his position as Department Director and became a drama student.

In 1989, Hou Yong graduated from university and was assigned to the Nanjing Military Region Drama Troupe.

As a newcomer in the troupe, he could only play background roles, with not a single famous line.

It was precisely this experience in the military region drama troupe that later shaped Hou Yong's acting path, largely centered on military themes.

It also deepened his "hard-man image."

His bearing when portraying soldiers could absolutely outshine all other actors.

By the time of "The Dyeing Workshop," Hou Yong's acting had reached mastery.

Though still some distance from the peak of his future role as "Director Zhao."

But among his contemporaries at the time, he was already among the best.

After Hou Yong finished his scene, he immediately spotted Cheng Chen squatting on set.

He walked over and saw the dense notes scribbled on Cheng Chen's small notebook, then laughed and said:

"Chengzi, stealing techniques in ancient times meant having your limbs broken and being beaten out with sticks."

Cheng Chen rolled his eyes,

closed his notebook, and said:

"Elder Hou, you're being unfair—last night's wine and peanuts were freely consumed; that was my tuition!"

"Huh, you paid a ridiculously cheap tuition. If you treat me to a meal someday, should I then give you a mind-blowing revelation and pass on all I've learned?"

Hou Yong laughed.

Cheng Chen, being cheeky, grabbed Hou Yong's arm as if to drag him off:

"Elder Hou, you said it—come on, let's set up a table, I'll treat you! Make sure to give me that revelation!"

"Alright, alright, you little rascal, give you a pole and you climb straight up—revelation? I think you need an enema more!"

Hou Yong waved his hand.

Hearing this, Cheng Chen felt a sudden tightness in his anus—this older brother might have some strange tastes.

The two often joked around on set, telling harmless anecdotes.

So when Hou Yong saw Cheng Chen clutching his rear, he recoiled a few steps in disgust.

Though they were separated by over a decade in age, Hou Yong treated Cheng Chen as an equal in conversation and action.

Moreover, through his observation, Cheng Chen seemed to treat everyone this way—whether Director Wang Wenjie or Sun Li.

Regardless of gender or age, he could chat with anyone, in a way that ignored age and gender entirely.

This was quite interesting.

As the two were joking, a woman with a sinuous waist walked over, smiling.

It wasn't Pan Jinlian—wait, no, it was Wang Siyi!

Wang Siyi, a film and television actress and model from Wan Sheng, China.

What made her most memorable was her portrayal of Pan Jinlian in the 1998 version of Water Margin.

That image of her standing by the window, lifting the curtain with a radiant smile, then saying in a sweet, fluttering voice, "This maid accidentally dropped it on the official."

Who wouldn't be bewitched by it?

It's no wonder Ximen Qing couldn't control himself—it's just that the lady was too alluring.

Among all the Pan Jinlians throughout history, only Wang Siyi's face—pure and innocent, yet coyly resisting yet inviting—left an indelible impression.

She became the woman countless veteran drivers tossed and turned over at night, unable to forget.

"Teacher Hou, Teacher Cheng, you two are chatting."

Wang Siyi greeted them softly, her Wan Sheng accent rich in tone particles and pronounced with a forward articulation, giving a naturally sweet, squeaky charm.

Some veteran drivers would shiver all over just hearing that voice while watching a movie, after which the film lost all appeal.

Cheng Chen had little interaction with Wang Siyi on set; they were merely nodding acquaintances.

"Yes, Sister Siyi, do you have scenes to shoot today too?"

Cheng Chen asked with a smile.

"Yes, Teacher Cheng, I've listened to your song 'Wan Jiang'—you sang it beautifully; after hearing it, the grand scenery of our motherland seemed to unfold right before my eyes."

After finishing Water Margin, this girl shifted her career focus to the Mainland.

For a red song like 'Wan Jiang,' she naturally chose to praise its appeal—and yes, the song really was beautiful.

Hearing this, Hou Yong beside her understood at once: she had come specifically to talk to Cheng Chen.

He decided not to be a third wheel, greeted Cheng Chen and Wang Siyi, then left.

"This kid's romantic luck is impossible to block—ah, how wonderful it is to be young…"

Watching Cheng Chen stand beside the curvaceous Wan Sheng girl, Hou Yong, already married, sighed inwardly.

……