Literary Master 1978.

Chapter 117: Playing Dirty
Tao Yucheng was closest to the door. He went over to open it and screamed "Ouch!"
"Who's coming?"

Tao Yushu looked towards the door and saw two familiar faces.

For the Tao family who often watch dramas, the faces of these two people are very familiar. They are the "Manager Wang" and "Master Qin" of the People's Art Theatre.

Lan Tianye smiled and said, "Hello, comrade. We are looking for Comrade Lin Chaoyang."

"Come in quickly, come in quickly!"

Tao Yucheng enthusiastically let the two into the house, then turned to Chaoyang and shouted, "Chaoyang, Teacher Lan and Teacher Yu are looking for you."

Lan Tianye and Yu Shizhi met Lin Chaoyang, exchanged a few words with smiles on their faces, praised "The World's No. 1 Restaurant" and then explained their purpose.

"A few days ago, Jian Gong came to my house in the middle of the night..."

Chen Jiangong ran to Lan Tianye's house in the middle of the night that day and recommended "The World's Number One Restaurant" to him. They had originally agreed that they would go to Yanshi University to watch the performance the next day, but there were too many students from other schools who went that day, so they didn't get to watch the play.

Two days later, he wanted to get a letter of introduction and then go to Yanshi University, but he had rehearsal tasks to attend and arrived too late. He entered the school with the letter of introduction but was unable to squeeze into the auditorium.

These days, the Yanshi auditorium is packed before 5pm every day. There is no place to sit, let alone stand. The school leaders led Lan Tianye to go in and find a seat, but they couldn't.

In desperation, the school leaders had to let Lan Tianye and others attend the art performance on the 9th.

Lan Tianye was extremely depressed after not being able to squeeze into the Yanshi Auditorium for three consecutive days. He couldn't understand how a student drama could have such great appeal.

But the more this happened, the more curious he became about "The World's No. 1 Restaurant" and the higher his expectations became.

After returning to the People's Art Theatre, he found Yu Shizhi, who was not only the mainstay of the theatre's drama stage, but also the first vice president of the theatre.

Although Mr. Cao Yu has been the president of the People's Art Theatre for many years, he has a heavy workload and is in poor health, so many of the People's Art Theatre's affairs, big and small, have been handled by the vice president Shi Zhi in recent years.

After Lan Tianye told Yu Shizhi about the situation of "The World's No. 1 Restaurant", he also became interested.

These days, college students are highly valued by the country, and the country spares no effort in cultivating their humanistic qualities. The major universities in Yenching alone have organized students to watch drama performances at the People's Art Theatre countless times.

Therefore, it is known that the aesthetic taste of drama of this group of college students is recognized. "The World's Number One Restaurant" was performed for only a few days, but it was able to cause such a great response and hot effect in the Yenching university community. I think it must be extraordinary.

After communicating with Lan Tianye, the two decided that they must not miss the cultural performance on the 9th.

So early this morning, the two of them rushed to the Yanjing City Government Auditorium, waited for a whole day, and finally saw the true appearance of "The World's No. 1 Restaurant" in the afternoon.

Because they had missed the chance to meet each other a few days ago, Lan Tianye and Yu Shizhi's appetite had been whetted. Moreover, both of them were veteran actors on the drama stage, so they deliberately calmed down their mentality before watching the play and tried their best to keep a normal mind.

But the two never expected that the excellence of "The World's Number One Restaurant" far exceeded their imagination.

At the end of the performance, the audience burst into warm applause that lasted for a long time. Both of them clapped their hands until they turned red. It was a compliment to the actors on the stage, and it was also the greatest affirmation of the script of "The World's Number One Restaurant" itself.

The two of them couldn't even wait for the performance to end, so Zhi said to Lan Tianye, "Hurry up and find Lin Chaoyang. We want this script!"

They couldn't wait to get up and leave the auditorium.

When Chen Jiangong recommended "The World's No. 1 Restaurant" to Lan Tianye, he did not tell him about the relationship between Lin Chaoyang and Tao Yushu. Lan Tianye only knew that Lin Chaoyang worked at Yan University.

So after the two came out of the auditorium, they ran straight to Yanda University. They first found the school, and then were led to the library where Lin Chaoyang worked, but found that Lin Chaoyang had already gone off work. Finally, they found his home.

The two came out early, but after a series of twists and turns, they fell behind Tao Yucheng and Tao Yushu.

After discussing the whole story, Su Zhi said to Lin Chaoyang with a sincere face: "Comrade Chaoyang, the "No. 1 Restaurant in the World" you created is exactly the most needed and scarce script for our People's Art Theater. I implore you to give this script to our People's Art Theater."

After Zhishu finished speaking, Lin Chaoyang looked thoughtful.

Lan Tianye thought he was concerned about the fact that the script had already been handed over to Yan Normal University.

“Comrade Chaoyang, it would be a shame if such an excellent play as The World’s No.1 Restaurant were only performed for students.

If you feel it is difficult to explain to Yanshi University, we at the People's Art Theatre can step forward to communicate.

I think the teachers and students of Yanshi will be very happy that "The World's No.1 Restaurant" can be seen by more audiences through the stage of the People's Art Theatre."

Lan Tianye tried to persuade him a few times, but Lin Chaoyang remained silent. His attitude made Shi Zhi and Lan Tianye at a loss as to what to do.

Just when the two were at a loss, Lin Chaoyang finally spoke.

“I am naturally happy that my script has been favored by the People’s Art Theatre.

I wrote "The Number One Restaurant in the World" because Yushu and her classmates wanted to put on a play. The students wanted to put on a play, but they didn't have much funding, so I volunteered to help..."

When Lin Chaoyang said this, Lan Tianye seemed to be thinking about something, so he knew what was going on. He took the initiative to say, "Comrade Chaoyang, our People's Art Theater is a professional theater. We charge admission for every performance. Actors receive wages and subsidies, and screenwriters also receive royalties and a share of the performance."

Lin Chaoyang nodded. That was right. It would be so detrimental to his literary temperament if he had to take the initiative to talk about money!

He laughed and said, "To be honest, I have always been a loyal audience of our People's Art Theatre. It is a great honor for me to have "The World's No. 1 Restaurant" on the stage of the People's Art Theatre."

Seeing Lin Chaoyang's smile, Yu Zhi and Lan Tianye also laughed. Yu Zhi said, "'The World's No. 1 Restaurant' is the best script I have seen in recent years. Being able to put it on the stage of our People's Art Theatre is not only a blessing for our People's Art Theatre, but also a blessing for the audience."

While chatting and laughing, Lin Chaoyang and Yu Shizhi reached a consensus.

So Zhi began to ask Lin Chaoyang about the reasons and process of creating "The World's Number One Restaurant". After chatting for almost an hour, So Zhi asked Lin Chaoyang for a script.

Today's communication is just a preliminary consensus. The National Theatre of China is the highest hall of Chinese drama. To bring the drama "The World's Number One Restaurant" to the screen, it is not enough to just say a few words.

He had to take the script back to the academy and have it reviewed by the Art Committee before the project could be officially approved.

Even after Zhi and Lan Tianye left, Tao Yushu still found it hard to believe it.

"Chaoyang, did you just give the script of The World's No. 1 Restaurant to the People's Art Theater?" Lin Chaoyang misunderstood what she meant. "I heard that the remuneration from the People's Art Theater is not high, but I didn't intend to make money by writing this script."

Tao Yushu looked at him speechlessly. Is that what I meant?

Tao Yucheng, who had not spoken much since Lan Tianye and Yu Shizhi came in, finally spoke now. With envy in his eyes, he said, "Chaoyang, this is the People's Art Theatre!"

Tao Yucheng studied drama literature in college and now teaches at the Central Academy of Drama. For him, the National Theatre of China is the highest temple of drama and he dreams of having his scripts performed on the stage of the National Theatre of China one day.

Unexpectedly, this wish came true in my brother-in-law.

Tao Yucheng pulled Lin Chaoyang to look left and right, marveling at him. Now he has passed the stage of "being afraid of his brothers driving a Land Rover" and is completely impressed by Lin Chaoyang's creative talent.

"Chaoyang, Chaoyang, your novels can be published in People's Literature, and your scripts can be published in People's Art Theatre. How many surprises do you think are waiting for us?"

Lin Chaoyang laughed and said, "Brother, that's exaggerating. It's just luck that The World's No.1 Restaurant was picked up by the People's Art Theatre."

"I also want to have this kind of luck." Tao Yucheng said unwillingly.

Father Tao laughed and said, "It's a happy thing that Chaoyang's script was favored by the People's Art Theatre. Yucheng, go buy some vegetables and make two more dishes tonight."

"Okay!" Tao Yucheng responded and was about to go out, "Mom, give me some money to buy groceries."

Tao's mother glared at him and said, "Your father asked you to buy groceries, and you are asking me for money?"

"Brother!" Tao Yushu called Tao Yucheng and handed over the money on his own initiative. At the same time, when his eyes met with Tao's mother, he inadvertently revealed a look of pride and boasting.

Tao Yucheng noticed his sister's little action, smiled secretly, took the money and said, "I'm going to buy vegetables."

That night, because of the sudden arrival of Shi Zhi and Lan Tianye, the Tao family had a late but very sumptuous dinner.

Lin Chaoyang gained fame and fortune, but it was his mother-in-law who suffered.

Two days later, Yan Normal University fulfilled their promise and "The Best Restaurant in the World" began to be performed in major universities in Yanjing, with Yan University as the first stop.

The news was posted on the most eye-catching large poster board in the center of the campus, which immediately attracted Yan University students to tell each other around the campus and immediately became the focus of Yan University students' attention.

On the day of the performance, before the doors opened, the auditorium entrance was packed with students, replicating the scene in front of the Yanshi University Auditorium.

"The World's Number One Restaurant" was performed twice in Yanda Lian, both shows were sold out, and then it was moved to Shuimu, but this aroused dissatisfaction among Yanda students.

The auditorium of Yan University can only accommodate 2,000 people at a time, including those sitting and standing. Even if there was no duplication of people during the two-day performance, only 4,000 people watched the performance. However, there are more than 10,000 teachers and students in Yan University. How can those students who have not had the chance to watch the show be willing?

Upon learning that "The World's Number One Restaurant" would move to the neighboring Shuimu the next day, Yan University students ran to the outside of Yannan Garden to make a commotion that evening.

Yannan Garden was home not only to many senior professors of Yan University, but also to school leaders. Students would run to the homes of school leaders early in the evening to request and coordinate for more performances of "The World's No. 1 Restaurant".

The school leaders were at a loss for words and had no choice but to agree, since they were their own children after all.

Logically speaking, since the leaders of Yan University came forward to coordinate, Yan Normal University should at least give them some face. However, this disrupted the performance plan of "The World's Number One Restaurant" in various universities in Yanjing.

Originally, the leaders of Yanjing Normal University planned to support students to use the time before the winter vacation to visit various universities in Yanjing, but now it seems that this month before the winter vacation is not enough to fill the gap.

Yan University, Shuimu University, Forestry University, Agricultural University, University of Science and Technology of China... If all of them were to follow the schedule of Yan University, it would take more than a month just for the universities in the northwest of Yanjing.

I can’t act it out. I can’t act it out at all.

Not to mention that winter vacation is coming soon, even the student actors can't hold on.

They are all amateur actors. They can probably hold out for a few days in a row, but the intensity of the performances for two or three months is too much for even the veteran actors of the National Theatre of China, let alone the students.

Given the objective conditions, the leaders of Yan University are helpless.

But considering that Lin Chaoyang, the screenwriter of "The World's Number One Restaurant", is a Yan University student, the leaders of Yan Normal University decided to add another performance at Yan University.

After the news came out, Yenching University students were delighted. Although they regretted that there were not more performances, it was an additional performance after all, and it was better to watch it than not to watch it at all.

The students of Yan University were happily watching the drama, but the students of Shuimu University next door were not so happy.

The performance plans for "The World's Number One Restaurant" were all communicated in advance. Yanda and Shuimu are separated by a wall, so after Yanda's performance, Shuimu would be the next. But Yanda insisted on making special arrangements and adding additional shows.

If Yanda University looks for one more day, they will have to wait one more day. Isn’t this bullying honest people?

Because of the extra performance that day, the students of Shuimu cursed Master Yan behind his back. This was another reason for the two schools to dislike each other.

Then some Shuimu students went to other schools to spread the word that students at Yan University had a special liking for "The World's No. 10 Restaurant" and demanded that Yan Normal University add performances.

As soon as this news came out, it immediately aroused public outrage among students from several nearby universities.

This Yan University is too domineering!

Some indignant students from other schools went straight to the large poster of Yanda University and launched a "war of words", denouncing Yanda University's overbearing behavior.

The large poster board of Yanda University has always been an important place for students to exchange information. During lunch and dinner time, a large number of students pay attention to it.

Suddenly, articles of condemnation from students from other schools appeared here, and the students of Yan University were confused.

The show "The World's No.1 Restaurant" was extended? How come they didn't know? Wasn't it being performed well in Shuimu next door?
The students asked each other, but no one had heard of adding more performances. After further inquiry, they learned that there was a rumor that "Yenching University requested to add 10 performances."

“Isn’t this a rumor?”

The students of Yan University were extremely angry. They knew without hesitation where the rumor came from.

It's just watching a play, but what you guys playing next door are really dirty!
(End of this chapter)