1979: My fiancée is a goddess

Chapter 148 Going to Peking University to watch a play
The rain stopped in the afternoon and the ground was a little wet.

In the distance, a red cloud hung in the sky, as if it was lit by flames.

"Dingling bell~"

A thin figure came in pushing a bicycle. It was Jiang Ting. She was holding something in her hands, a few boxes of wafer biscuits.

Cheng Kaiyan discovered that this woman would bring some gifts every time she came to her house.

Jiang Ting asked: "Sister Yuxiu, we are going to Peking University to watch a play, do you want to go?"

"Forget it, I won't go. Peking University is too far away, and..."

Xu Yuxiu shook her head and refused.

Only Cheng Kaiyan knew that she didn't want to be reminded of the past by seeing the objects.

After all, my dad used to teach at Peking University, so it’s inevitable that he has some familiar teachers and friends.

Xu Yuxiu didn't go, but there was one person who was very interested.

"Brother Yan, please take me there. I want to go to Peking University to watch a play. I don't have classes tomorrow anyway."

The little girl Zhan Xinyu was doing homework in the room. When she heard the noise, she opened the window and begged.

This girl is a high school student and she dreams of going to Peking University, but her home is far from the university, so she has never been there.

Helplessly, the two of them rode their bicycles, with Cheng Kaiyan carrying Zhan Xinyu behind her and heading to Peking University. They each brought an umbrella for fear of rain.

Peking University is located at No. 5, Yiheyuan Road, HD District, which is less than ten kilometers away from Beijing Normal University.

By the time the three of them rode their bikes to the vicinity of Ditan Park, Jiang Ting was already exhausted and out of breath.

"Auntie, don't be so stubborn. Switch with Xinyu and let her ride the bike."

Cheng Kaiyan suggested.

"Need not."

Jiang Ting wiped the sweat from her forehead and said with a slightly red face.

Cheng Kaiyan now discovered another shortcoming of this woman: she was stubborn.

Zhan Xinyu, who was sitting behind him and humming a song, was very grateful when she heard Jiang Ting insist on riding on her own. They had only walked less than half the distance, and there were still more than ten kilometers to go. If she were to ride on her own, she would be exhausted to death.

After riding less than two hundred meters, Jiang Ting was really exhausted.

Jiang Ting stood up, and stood still, breathing slowly.

"No, I asked you to sit behind me, but you didn't want to."

Cheng Kaiyan slid closer, stood side by side with him, and laughed.

She glared at Cheng Kaiyan fiercely, walked over silently, and touched the little girl's head.

Then Zhan Xinyu cleverly jumped off the bike and rode Jiang Ting's bike.

Soon, Cheng Kaiyan felt something sinking behind him, and a slender jade arm wrapped around his waist, accompanied by a rich fragrance like orchid and musk.

"Let's go, it's running out of time."

When the woman's cold voice came, Cheng Kaiyan's mind concentrated. He lowered his head to glance at the jade hand on his waist and abdomen, and hurriedly pedaled the wheel towards Beijing Normal University.

……

Peking University's Weiming Lake.

The grass is green and the lake breeze is moist.

There is a small platform made of wooden boards by the lake, covered with a red carpet and surrounded by lights.

The students in the audience were very enthusiastic and helped spontaneously.

People coming and going stopped on the path by the lake.

"Here, here. This background wall will be used later. Put it behind the stage."

"That street lamp is a prop. There is no need to move it."

Chen Jiangong and several members of the May Fourth Literary Society directed the students' work.

After finishing these arrangements, Chen Jiangong finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Although it is not the time for the official tour yet, this is the first time to rehearse publicly in front of so many teachers and students. Moreover, among the several plays prepared by the students, only "Sentinels Under Neon Lights" by the School of Engineering was rehearsed well, while the other two plays still had some shortcomings.

If something goes wrong, one can imagine the psychological blow to these amateur student actors.

Chen Jiangong walked to the backstage not far away.

There are more than a dozen young people in various clothes gathered backstage. They sit on the grass, chatting excitedly and nervously to relieve the tension in their hearts.

The story of the drama "The Sentry Under the Neon Lights" takes place in Shanghai on the eve of liberation.

As a student club, although we were unable to authentically recreate the scenes, we were still able to put together all the actors' costumes, which were all borrowed from the Beijing Film Studio.

For example, coarse cloth clothes, ragged beggar's clothes, military uniforms, suits, and cheongsams and fox furs worn by noble ladies.

In addition, there were unprofessional makeup artists painting on the faces of the student actors.

There were two young girls sitting on a bench not far away. One of them was tall and slender, wearing an exquisite cheongsam that was often worn by the daughters of wealthy families in old Shanghai. The dress was just a little too big for her size, and judging by the style and texture, it didn't look like something the club had borrowed from the Beijing Film Studio. Instead, it might have belonged to an elder in her family.

In addition, in order to keep warm, she also wears a coat over the cheongsam.

"It's six o'clock. Is everyone ready? The first rehearsal for "Sentinel Under the Neon Lights"."

Chen Jiangong withdrew his gaze and shouted loudly to the students from the Engineering College.

"I'm ready, Brother Chen."

Ning Wanjia, the pretty girl sitting on the bench, responded solemnly. The character she played this time was a daughter of a wealthy family who was determined to join the revolution. Plus it was her first time performing on stage, so she acted rather solemnly.

In fact, Ning Wanjia would be more interested and confident if she were to perform "The Red Detachment of Women".

Although she has a delicate face, she grew up in a military compound and is quite good in both martial arts and marksmanship.

Under the command of Chen Jiangong, the group began to prepare to go on stage in an orderly manner.

……

"We're finally here. Xiaoyu, aren't you riding too slowly?"

Cheng Kaiyan looked at the curtain drawn on the stage and chirped.

The three of them have just arrived. In fact, Cheng Kaiyan thinks that Jiang Ting should not have ridden her bike to Xiaowei Hutong. Wouldn't it be enough for her to wait directly in the dormitory of Beijing Normal University?

However, it is also possible that Jiang Ting came to visit her mother Xu Yuxiu specifically with gifts, it is hard to say.

"How old am I?!"

Zhan Xinyu said unconvincedly, gesturing at her thin arms and legs.

"Alright, alright! Find a seat and sit down."

The three of them found a seat near the front.

At a glance, many Peking University students were sitting on the grass or on small stools.

Naturally, there would be no stools provided for the audience in this kind of open-air public rehearsal.

Fortunately, they brought a small stool.

Cheng Kaiyan and the other two ate the snacks they had prepared while looking up at the stage.

After a while, the rehearsal began.

A fierce horn sounded from the loudspeaker, and the teachers and students present all quieted down. They knew that the first public rehearsal of the play "Sentinels Under Neon Lights" was about to begin. The narration sounded from the loudspeaker, introducing the background of the story to everyone present.

After all, it was a drama produced seventeen years ago, and not everyone is familiar with it.

"The gunfire of the liberation of Shanghai dyed the night sky of the city red. The soldiers were full of fighting spirit. As the pioneers of the liberation of Shanghai, the three platoons of soldiers engaged in a fierce battle with the enemy...

But the enemy did not give up. Secret agents, gangsters such as Lao K and Lao Qi hid in the foreign land, trying to make the People's Liberation Army moldy, blackened and rotten in Nanjing Road with flashing neon lights within three months...

The third platoon accepted the task of standing guard on Nanjing Road to defend Shanghai, but the soldiers lacked a clear understanding of this new struggle, this more acute struggle.

So a hidden, undercurrent struggle is about to begin..."

As soon as he finished speaking, the curtain was drawn open and the stage suddenly lit up.

Seven or eight liberation fighters with guns and black faces rushed onto the stage.

At the same time, a smell of gunpowder filled the air, very detailed!

"Report to the platoon leader! Nanjing Road has been checked!"

A younger soldier, Tong Anan, saluted the platoon leader Chen Xi and shouted commands in a powerful voice, which cheered up the audience.

It was as if a vivid warrior appeared before your eyes, and the war seemed to be right before your eyes.

"Don't speak so rudely! The people in Shanghai might get scared if they hear you!"

Platoon leader Chen Xi scolded.

……

“This boy acted well!”

Cheng Kaiyan commented that it has to be said that Peking University is Peking University after all. Even the students' amateur drama performances have some quality in them. Just the costumes, music and lines have been practiced, so they must have been guided by experts.

Got to learn.

Cheng Kaiyan wrote it down in a small notebook.

Chen Jiangong behind him also nodded frequently, but when he heard this familiar voice, he leaned over and looked, "Hey! Comrade Kaiyan! It's you, you're here to watch the Peking University drama too."

"Who are you? Chen Jiangong?"

Cheng Kaiyan also recognized this person and said in surprise.

"Hi……"

Chen Jiangong was about to say something when he heard Cheng Kaiyan say let's watch the show and talk later.

The play is still going on.

To celebrate liberation, a garden party was held.

Tong Anan was responsible for standing guard at the entrance of the garden party to prevent suspicious people from entering the park and disrupting the party.

Tong Anan came from a poor family. Before the liberation of Shanghai, he led students in an anti-hunger march.

Next, in order to have dinner with his female classmate Lin Yuanyuan, he left his post with the consent of platoon leader Chen Xi, giving the enemy an opportunity to take advantage.

At this time, the progressive young woman Lin Yuanyuan, played by Ning Wanjia, appeared on the stage and amazed everyone at once.

"Wow! As expected of a Shanghai lady, a progressive young woman, she looks so heroic in this coat!"

"This temperament is really extraordinary."

The audience was discussing enthusiastically.

The rest of the story continues according to the classic script. In the foreign conurbation of Shanghai, the huge change in Platoon Leader Chen Xi's thoughts shocked everyone.

He treated his wife Chunni with disgust, thinking she was rustic and shameful. Faced with the temptation of a beautiful hostile female spy, he lost his vigilance and indulged in the world of pleasure.

Another soldier, Zhang Dada, was very angry about the two men's work style and reported to his superiors to be transferred to the front line to fight.

……

"Standing on the street is not much easier than marching and fighting. The soldiers who once fought bloody battles on the front line felt the bourgeois extravagant lifestyle here, as well as the threat of residual reactionary forces. The old man taught us to remember the class contradictions for a hundred years without wavering! This play is really well performed!"

An old professor in the audience was watching and feeling deeply moved.

Even though the play, which was originally scheduled to last more than three hours, was compressed to only one and a half hours, the teachers, students and the public who came to see it all watched it with great gusto, without even blinking an eye.

"Good good!"

"The acting is really great! They are indeed top students from Peking University. Not only are they good at studying, they are also great at acting in dramas!"

One play after another was performed until ten o'clock.

Cheng Kaiyan was also surprised that she could actually watch it, but after watching these three plays at Peking University, she felt even more stressed.

"The Sentinel Under the Neon Lights" is a classic, "Oedipus" is a novelty...

None of them are easy to deal with.

After the performance, Peking University members cleaned up the scene.

"Chen Jiangong, I heard from my classmates at Beijing Normal University that Liu Zhiyi from the Beijing Normal University's Northern Drama Club found Cheng Kaiyan to help write a script. I heard it was an adaptation of Love Letter."

Cha Jianying came over from the backstage not far away and told him the news.

"Ask Cheng Kaiyan to help turn "Love Letter" into a play? President Liu of the Northern Theater Club really has a good vision."

As a writer of some fame, Chen Jiangong was shocked when he heard the news.

The excellence of "Love Letter" can be seen from the fact that Peking University students have been circulating it recently, which shows how popular this pure love story is.

Now if it were to be put on stage and turned into a play...

Just thinking about it, Chen Jiangong is looking forward to seeing this work performed on stage!

What about other students?
"That's right! Love Letter is so popular now! Every student at Peking University has a copy, and even young teachers are full of praise. Now it's been adapted into a play, what should we do?"

Cha Jianying was both excited and looking forward to the drama "Love Letter", but also worried.

"Love Letter" was adapted into a drama. Wouldn't other schools' dramas be overshadowed?
"You are worrying too much. Cha Jianying, you and Lao Chen have both read Love Letters. Don't you know that the narrative structure of Love Letters is not suitable for adaptation into a play?"

This is what a dignified young man who walked over from the backstage said confidently.

This person is Liu Yuan, a talented scholar from the History Department of Peking University. He adapted the book "Oedipus", which has just been recognized by many audiences. Now he can be said to be in high spirits and very proud of himself.

Zha Jianying and Chen Jiangong thought for a moment and said, "That's true, but..."

"But what?"

Liu Yuan waved his hands impatiently, these two people actually didn't believe him.

"But Cheng Kaiyan is a recognized talent after all, and..."

Cha Jianying frowned and said worriedly.

"I admit that Comrade Cheng Kaiyan is very talented. Isn't he a novelist? Can he really write a play? Our Peking University's plays are definitely not worse than his love letters. Comrade Cha Jianying, don't encourage others and destroy your own prestige."

Liu Yuan said patiently, with some doubt in his tone at the end.

In his opinion, his talent and aptitude in drama are not necessarily inferior to Cheng Kaiyan's.

Moreover, for the play Oedipus, he also sought out experts in the field of drama research to revise and provide guidance. Now that so many people like it after the performance, doesn’t he believe that The Love Letter can compare?
He also heard people say that Cheng Kaiyan only had a high school education and that her current fame was only due to luck.

All kinds of people come to write plays. Do they really think that anyone can write one?
Cha Jianying wanted to say something, but was stopped by Chen Jiangong, who shook his head at her: "Stop talking, I just saw Cheng Kaiyan, he also came to see the performance."

What this means is that they are confident and have time to watch our drama.

(End of this chapter)