World Tibet Bureau

We are looking for Qubi who can perform shadow puppetry.

There are not many people working in this industry.

Renxi is a small place, so there is a high probability that they know each other.

The three of them arrived at the town square.

The night is already deep.

The stage in the square has been set up early, and a temporary stove has been set up in the left corner. Several chefs are cooking in full swing. There are many uncles and aunties helping them next to them. There are two long tables on the left and right, with a lot of food on them. Steaming hot dishes.

There was a large open space in the middle with many stools and many people watching movies.

The environment is relatively noisy.

The adults were smiling and eating while standing with bowls in their hands, while the children were running around and playing.

I remember that the outdoor movie was showing "Heroes". The Qin army attacked the city uniformly, shouting: "Great Wind".

The young people who watched this movie back then should be in their forties now.

The shadow puppet show hasn't started yet.

There is waiting all around.

We couldn't stand the aroma of the banquet dishes in the countryside, so we ran to the banquet with our bowls in hand.

After a while.

I'm stuffed.

I simply found a stool and sat down to watch the movie.

Fatty Xiao burped: "I'm not interested in movies... I have to eat all these dishes today! Ugh!"

Xiaozhu said with a smile: "I want to eat it all too!"

Those two rows of long tables contained at least forty or fifty dishes, and they were constantly being updated. If they wanted to eat them all, they would have to gain at least three pounds.

I watched for a while, and Xiaozhu ran over and sat next to me.

I asked: "Don't you want to eat it all?"

Xiaozhu said: "I haven't watched the movie with you, but the movie is still good!"

After half an hour.

The movie is over.

The shadow puppet show appears.

I thought that there would be fewer people who liked this kind of traditional folk art, but to my surprise, there were actually more people. Old men and women who had not come to watch the movie before also came to watch it with a smile.

Everyone knows about shadow puppetry, but few may know that it originated from the love story of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.

It is said that Mrs. Li, the beloved concubine of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, passed away. Emperor Wu thought about it day and night and ignored the government affairs.

The state of the king made the ministers very worried.

A minister named Li Shaoweng had a better brain. He cut an image of Mrs. Li out of cotton, painted it with colors, hung curtains, lit lamps and candles, installed wooden poles, and staged a scene of Mrs. Li returning to the palace. .After Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty watched it, Longyan was delighted, and from then on shadow puppetry began to flourish everywhere.

This thing is considered the earliest movie in the world.

But later in the Qing Dynasty, shadow puppetry was banned for a period of time because of the White Lotus Sect.

According to unofficial records, these people smeared blood on the shadow puppets and used ghostly magic to control the shadow puppets to besiege the Qing army, kill court ministers, and steal money and grain from the treasury, causing panic for a while.

I once read an old book called "Shadow Puppetry in Three States of the World", and it was quite exciting.

But just listen to this stuff as a folk tale, there is a high probability that it is not true.

but.

In the 40s and [-]s, shadow puppets were used by gangsters to scam people through villages and alleys, and it was indeed true.

The shadow puppet performance on the stage was very exciting, with simple singing and full charm. At that moment, I was obsessed with it.It's time for halftime.

Xiaozhu actually fell asleep, with her head resting on my shoulder. Her long eyelashes were gently fluttered by the evening breeze. From the side of her face, she looked like a porcelain doll.

Fatty Xiao touched his belly and came over burping.

I called Xiaozhu several times.

But this girl slept so soundly, and there were so many people around her that she didn't even hear her, so she slept soundly.

I turned around and asked Fatty Xiao: "Are you full?"

Fatty Xiao said: "It's not bad! I at least made enough for my boss's ten guests... eh."

I said: "Xiaozhu is asleep, let her rest for a while. Now is the intermission, you just go to the backstage and ask them if they know Qubi or Nanza."

Hearing this, Fatty Xiao made an "OK" gesture: "Nothing wrong!"

He went away feeling shy.

But within a few minutes, Fatty Xiao came back, his face full of embarrassment.

I asked: "What's wrong?"

Fatty Xiao said: "Damn! As soon as I opened the curtain and entered the backstage, I was kicked out by the class leader. He said that no outsiders were allowed to enter the backstage of the troupe, and he didn't even let me say anything!"

This is true.

There are many rules backstage in old theater troupes, and outsiders are generally not allowed in. In addition to worrying about being taught the core skills, they are also afraid of people coming to poach them.Similarly, you are not allowed to hold umbrellas backstage (it is taboo that the theater troupe will disperse), you are not allowed to play chess (it is taboo that the horse pulling the theatrical equipment will move), you are not allowed to bring meat dishes in (it is taboo that night performances will summon spirits)...

I was a little speechless: "If I don't let you in, you won't think of something? Have you lived a stable life for several years and your brain has become stupid?"

Fatty Xiao scratched his head: "There has to be an adaptation process...Su Zi, don't worry, I'll think of a way."

I said, "Don't think about it anymore. Just hold on to the bamboo and I'll go."

Fatty Xiao said, "Okay, we'll wait here."

He was going to help Xiaozhu.

As a result, Xiaozhu woke up and rubbed his eyes: "Brother, where are you going? Why did I fall asleep just now..."

Fatty Xiao glanced at Xiaozhu: "Zhu, did you really fall asleep just now?"

Xiaozhu rolled his eyes: "Of course!"

Fatty Xiao stayed where he was and waited.

I turned around and went to the small shop next to me, bought two sticks of Jiaozi cigarettes, and went backstage.

Xiaozhu also followed, waving his ponytail.

Lift the stage curtain.

Several people who were drinking tea and reviewing the script turned to look at us. A bald class leader frowned and said, "Go outside to watch the show. This is the backstage. Don't let outsiders come in!"

I said with a smile: "Old Ban, I am the mother-in-law of Mr. Wang's daughter-in-law! There is a big happy event for the old man's family today, and our mother-in-law's family are also happy. Come here and give everyone some celebratory cigarettes!"

When the bald head teacher heard this, his expression suddenly changed: "Haha, I thought they were ordinary people watching the show!"

Xiaozhu and I started to smoke.

Two packs per person.

"Thank you for your hard work!"

"congratulations!"

"I saw this play "Chang'e in the Canopy" before in the county cultural team. I remember the name of the leading actor at that time..."

Xiaozhu said: "Brother, his name is Nanza, and he is our second uncle's friend!" (End of Chapter)