The literary era since 1979

Including Keiko Matsuzaka and Komaki Kurihara, they are able to participate in the 30th anniversary cultural and artistic exchange event as representatives of the Japanese theater and entertainment circles. They cannot be said to be true experts on China, but at least they have some understanding of Chinese culture and literature, and can speak some Chinese.

Therefore, watching the drama performance of "The World's No. 1 Restaurant" was not strenuous at all.

Especially for those who have eaten Peking duck at Quanjude, when they learned that "The World's No. 1 Restaurant" was based on Quanjude, they read it with even more gusto. They swallowed subconsciously or almost drooled.

This is all thanks to the superb acting skills of the actors of the National Theatre of China. Although it was a non-property performance, they acted it as if there were real delicious roast duck.

For example, Liu Liankun, who played "Chang Gui", although only a minor supporting role, brought to life this restaurant owner who was the most observant and versatile in the old city. He worked diligently and cautiously all his life, but only earned 30 yuan in half a year, and even owed his employer 20 yuan because his wife and children were sick.

In order to support his family, he had to bow his head and endure humiliation, but in the end he was still humiliated and died with hatred.

In the scene just now, in order to show the great pain and grievance in Chang Gui's heart, Liu Liankun deliberately designed a small action, that is, coming down the stairs, suddenly staggering, his face twisted, and then he immediately stood up and continued to run.

"It's a good performance."

Xia Yan, Ding Ling, Ai Qing and other old people who came from the old society felt a sense of déjà vu when they saw these scenes. The cook Luo Datou, the two dandy young masters, the eunuchs who served in the palace, the impoverished bannerman Ke Wu and so on, formed a vivid picture of the people in the market of the Republic of China.

Wan Jiabao sighed: "Part of the credit here should be attributed to the script. Without a good script, even the best actors can't give a good performance."

Everyone agreed with this and turned their attention to the dialect being explained to Keiko Matsuzaka, Komaki Kurihara and others.

Under his writing, although the supporting characters are not given much attention, each one of them is flesh and blood, which shows his great skill!
"When I first received Xiao Fang's book, I felt it was very special. Although it has the shadow of Teahouse, it is not trapped in the shackles. It has written something new that Teahouse does not have." Wan Jiabao said seriously, "That is 'human dignity'!"

Xia Yan, Ding Ling and others all agreed. In the old society, cooks, actors, brothels, doormen and nannies were called the "Five Occupations". This kind of servant business was discriminated against and was half a head shorter than others. However, Fujudeli was a place where such little people who were looked down upon gathered.

"The Number One Restaurant in the World" not only writes about the shining points of these little people, but also shows their endurance and struggle to survive.

“It’s not just about human dignity, it’s also about enterprise reform and life insights!”

As a regular customer of Quanjude, Wang Zengqi marveled: "This Tianxia Diyilou is also a restaurant. They serve the five flavors of sour, sweet, bitter, spicy and salty. Yanzi clearly wrote about the five flavors of the dish, but it implies the five flavors of life of the people in Tianxia Diyilou. Then, from the five flavors of life to the feelings about life as a whole, it is all progressive..."

Ding Ling said: "This kind of progression must be based on culture and experience. I'm afraid you, Old Wan, have contributed to this, right?"

“‘The World’s No. 1 Restaurant’ and ‘Shang Yang’ are really different.”

Wan Jiabao waved his hand and said that this time Fangyan was almost alone in his efforts, and he and Yu Shizhi and others were just giving some guidance.

"I believe what Wan Gong said." Wang Zengqi said: "Only someone like Yan Zi can say 'The best taste in life is pure joy', and can write A Bite of China, and can create such a 'The Best Restaurant in the World' that embodies the five tastes of life."

"It's not just that."

Wang Meng said that both "The World's Number One Restaurant" and "Teahouse" are full of strong Beijing culture. It would be impossible to write so authentically without a deep understanding of Yanjing culture. Only the dialect writers who have set off a wave of regional literature and root-seeking literature have this ability.

"Among the younger generation of playwrights, I'm afraid no one can surpass him!"

Drama masters such as Wan Jiabao and Ouyang Shanzun praised it highly, and their eyes were fixed on Fangyan.

I saw him discussing with Shuntaro Tanikawa, a famous Japanese playwright. Of course, he is more famous for his poems. He is known as the flag bearer of modern Japanese poetry and is called the cosmic poet of the Showa period for his collection of poems "Twenty Billion Light Years of Loneliness".

When I first learned about this person’s background from Kurihara Komaki’s introduction, Fangyan thought I might have heard it wrong.
Cosmic poet?

It is worthy of being Japan's traditional art, full of the feeling of a middle school student. However, when it comes to the universe, I asked the "cosmic superpower" South Korea and it had no idea!
But he only complained a few words in his heart, and with the help of Kurihara Komaki and Matsuzaka Keiko's translation, he communicated with him about the drama between the two countries.

The more Kurihara Komaki translated, the more respect and admiration she looked at Fangyan with. As for Matsuzaka Keiko, she had already fallen for her.

The show was performed scene after scene, and when it was near the end, the final couplet that summed up the theme was brought onto the stage and hung in a prominent place.

"What a dangerous building. Who is the host and who is the guest?"

After Su Ya finished reading the first couplet, she continued reading the second couplet, "Only three old houses, sometimes suitable for the bright moon and sometimes suitable for the wind."

Seeing her friend's puzzled expression, Gong Xing repeated the explanation she had given her in dialect exactly as it was:
"These are the couplets written by Kangxi and Ji Xiaolan respectively... Although "The No. 1 Building in the World" has not appeared once in the entire play, this couplet directly points out the essence of the whole play, which is 'I watched him build a red building, I watched him entertain guests, and I watched his building collapse'."

"High! Really high! Teacher Fang is really too high!"

Feng Yuanzheng, who was sitting next to them, slapped his thigh excitedly.

"Hey! Why are you patting my thigh? If you want to pat someone, pat your own thigh!"

Wu Gang became anxious, and looked a bit like "Li Dakang" in later generations.

"Isn't this exciting?"

Feng Yuanzheng smiled awkwardly and said, "This movie 'The Best Restaurant in the World' will definitely make those Japanese people who are living a good life dumbfounded."

Wu Gang said, "Who says it's not true? Let them know that our plays are not limited to "Thunderstorm", "Sunrise", "Wilderness" and "Teahouse". We also have new plays like "Shang Yang" and "The World's No. 1 Restaurant"! They are the works of our generation of dramatists!"

Feng Yuanzheng's tone was full of admiration: "I think the person who can take over Mr. Wan's class in the future will have to be Mr. Ren Fang."

"Of course it's Mr. Fang. Apart from him, there is no one else who can take over Mr. Wan's job."

Wu Gang lowered his voice and said, "And I'll tell you a secret. This secret was told to me by other veteran comrades in the People's Art Theatre. You must not tell anyone else." After seeing Feng Yuanzheng's solemn promise, he said in a lighter voice, "Teacher Fang seems to be Master Wan's registered disciple..."

Gong Xing and Su Ya listened quietly, smiled at each other, and then suddenly heard cheers, applause, and cheers beside their ears.

As soon as the performance of "The World's Number One Restaurant" ended, the curtain was drawn, and this couplet was intentionally "locked" outside the curtain.

Even when Yu Shizhi, Lu Chen, Liu Liankun, Lan Tianye and other actors bowed to take their bows, they did not put them away.

"Whoa whoa whoa whoa."

The applause became more and more enthusiastic, and at its climax it was like a tsunami, and many audience members even stood up and applauded.

Kurihara Komaki applauded while translating the question raised by Tanikawa Shuntaro:
"Is this couplet hung outside the curtain intentional or accidental?"

"Of course it was intentional. From the perspective of the drama's effect, this way the audience will always look at the couplets before leaving the theater, so that the audience will keep looking back. Of course, from the perspective of the drama's story and concept..."

Fangyan raised his voice so that his voice would not be drowned out by the thunderous applause.

"What about the story and the theme?"

Tanichuan Shuntaro couldn't wait to ask.

Fang Yan said passionately: "Life is like a feast, there is always a time to end. Lu Mengshi left because the host did not trust him; Yu Chu'er left because Lu Mengshi could not take her away; Chang Gui died because the world could not praise him; Xiu Dingxin got drunk because he did not know where to go. At this moment, the play is over and the audience should leave." Facing the eyes of the exchange group members, he said in a sonorous and powerful voice:
"As the saying goes, 'to experience the joys and sorrows of a meal, to see the comings and goings of a meal', watch "The Best Restaurant in the World"!"

As soon as these words were spoken, people in the Japanese drama industry, including the Haiyuza Theater, exclaimed in surprise, and some even shouted "Siguoyi"!
People in China also applauded, "Xiao Fang said it well! What a tragedy and joy, separation and reunion, the end of the song and the play, everyone goes their separate ways!"

Although Fang Yan is the last disciple of my old friend Shen Yanbing, when it comes to drama, I was the one who trained this kid!

There was a hint of relief in Wan Jiabao's satisfied eyes.

"Brother Wan, a good teacher produces excellent students."

Xia Yan also knew the inside story and congratulated him again and again. Wan Jiabao's legacy was passed down from then on! China's drama industry also had a successor from now on!

Wan Jiabao laughed heartily and said, "Talented people emerge in every generation, and each leads the trend for thousands of years. Now this world belongs to Xiao Fang and his group of young people!"

…………

After the premiere of the drama, the sky gradually darkened.

The audience left one after another, and the reporters who had just swarmed around Fang Yan, Yu Shizhi and others for an interview had also disappeared without a trace.

According to today's schedule, the dinner will be held at "Quanjude", the prototype of "The World's No. 1 Restaurant".

Fang Yan glanced around and saw Gong Xian and Su Ya waving their hands. It was obvious that they had been waiting at the entrance of the People's Art Theater for a while.

"We have reserved a table at Quanjude and are taking the Japanese exchange group to eat roast duck. Do you want to go with us?"

"This is not good..."

Gong Xing hesitated for a moment, "If we go, will it cause you trouble?"

Fangyan raised his hands and said, "How could that be? It's nothing more than adding two more pairs of chopsticks."

Seeing the two chatting, Kurihara Komaki gently nudged Matsuzaka Keiko with her elbow, "She is Fangyan-kun's wife, right?"

Keiko Matsuzaka was not at all flustered. Her calm face was filled with enthusiasm. She took the initiative to step forward and greet Gong Xing and the others.

"Keiko-chan!"

Kurihara Komaki was startled and hurriedly followed, but she didn't expect that the two women who had just met by chance were fighting so passionately at this moment.

"This is my close friend, Kurihara Komaki."

Keiko Matsuzaka introduced her, "She will be performing the one-man show she has been practicing for a long time, 'Matsui Sumako' when she comes to China this time."

Gong Xing and Su Ya looked at each other in bewilderment: "Matsui Sumako?"

"Ms. Matsui Sumako was the first actress in Japan to work in a new drama. There are many novels and movies based on her in Japan."

“In Japan 100 years ago, it was really difficult for a female artist to perform,” Kurihara Komaki said.

Seeing them in such a harmonious mood, Fangyan smiled but said nothing. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Wan Jiabao, Ding Ling, Tanikawa Shuntaro, Ninagawa Yukio and the others coming out of the lobby one by one. "This is not a place to chat. Xiaoxiang, drive them to Quanjude first."

"it is good!"

Gong Xing readily agreed and asked Su Ya, Matsuzaka Keiko and the other two to follow her.

"Isn't this the first time you and her met?"

Kurihara Komaki secretly pulled her best friend's hand and said, "Why do I feel like your relationship with her is deeper than mine?"

Keiko Matsuzaka said with a smile that they were the heroines of the Chinese and Japanese versions of "The Ring" respectively, and they had common topics.

Kurihara Komaki said dimly, "Thank goodness you were able to keep your composure. If it were me, I would have been exposed."

Keiko Matsuzaka jokingly said, "Why, Xiaojuan-chan is also a dialect person like me..."

"Yadayo!!"

Kurihara Komaki interrupted unhappily, "If you keep saying that I'll get angry."

Keiko Matsuzaka clasped her hands together, apologized repeatedly, then took her arm and got into the Citroen driven by Gong Xing.

The girls talked and laughed along the way and got to know each other. Since they were all actors, the topic naturally turned to movies.

Even in the private room of Quanjude, they kept chatting, especially when they learned that Gong Xing wanted to switch careers from an actor to a director.

“It is thanks to him that I have this opportunity.”

Gong Xing stared straight at Fang Yan's profile and spoke with reservation, not saying that he had set up a Mingkong Film Company specifically for himself.

"Fang Yanjun is really a good man..."

Keiko Matsuzaka has no jealousy at all. Not to mention that she has promoted herself to be a triple-talented actress in film, television and music comparable to Momoe Yamaguchi, just the future path she has planned for herself, whether as a shareholder of SoftBank or as the vice president of an entertainment agency, is something that many artists can only dream of.

When she looked at Fangyan, Kurihara Komaki also looked over there calmly.

Fang Yan suddenly stood up in response to Yu Shizhi's toast.

"President Yu, this is not allowed. I should be the one to toast you and thank you and your colleagues at the People's Art Theatre for presenting us with such a great show!"

"Teacher Fang, you've got it wrong. I should be the one thanking you on behalf of all the comrades in the People's Art Theatre."

Master Yu said: "Thank you for writing such a good play for us. It has given the People's Art Theater and the Chinese drama world another representative play!"

Seeing that he was so determined, Fang Yan no longer refused. After clinking glasses, he drank the wine in one gulp:

"It is true that I have contributed to the creation of The World's No. 1 Restaurant, but it is also inseparable from the guidance of you, Mr. Yu, and Teacher Ouyang."

"So, I'm going to toast to Mr. Wan, Brother Ouyang, and all the playwrights present here with this next glass of wine."

Yu Shizhi raised his glass solemnly, "Thank you all for supporting the theater with your pens! Without you, there would be no good plays and good characters!" (End of this chapter)