Start telling crosstalk from Tingyunxuan

Chapter 262 I have a nickname, the number one troublemaker in the West City
On stage, Yan Hexiang stared at Yang Yunsheng for a few seconds.

"It's a good thing there aren't any of Cui Jian's fans in the audience today, otherwise we would have swallowed you whole."

Yang Yunsheng tentatively asked, "So, your name is Cui Jian?"

Yan Hexiang nodded: "Yes, Cui Jian!"

Yang Yunsheng said, "I think Cui Jian's singing style is very distinctive. It always feels like there are a lot of men smoking in his throat!"

The audience burst out laughing.

Yan Hexiang retorted, "Can you even speak properly? What do you mean by 'it's like having a bunch of men smoking in your throat'?"

Yang Yunsheng was dissatisfied, as if he was unhappy that Yan Hexiang didn't understand him.

"Let me put it this way, the singing was so smoky and unclear, you couldn't understand what was being sung!"

Yan Hexiang said, "I wouldn't be surprised if Cui Jian beat you to death one day!"

Yang Yunsheng gave an example to illustrate this point.

"Turns out my illness was due to not catching up!"

Yan Hexiang asked in confusion, "No, what did you just sing?"

Yang Yunsheng sang it again: "So it turns out my illness was just a fluke!"

The audience burst into laughter. "Is that how Cui Jian sings it?"

Yan Hexiang also wondered, "Your singing style is like having a stocking in your mouth!"

Yang Yunsheng said, "The song I heard most clearly at his concert before was called 'The Fake Monk'!"

Yan Hexiang was surprised when he heard it was this song.

"This song is great!"

Yang Yunsheng said, "It sounds good. When a person stands on the stage, with the microphone set up high and a hat covering their face, it looks very classy. They sing, 'I want to walk from south to north, and I want to walk from white to black. I want people to see me and know that I am a member of the underworld.'"

Yan Hexiang shoved Yang Yunsheng: "Get lost! What gangsters? They don't even know who I am!"

Yang Yunsheng smiled, somewhat surprised.

You went to the concert too?

"Of course! Isn't that obvious!"

Yan Hexiang flicked his sleeves, his expression somewhat displeased.

Yang Yunsheng then asked, "Did you go on the same day as me?"

Yan Hexiang replied, "Who went on the same day as you? Besides, your singing is far inferior to Teacher Cui's. Teacher Cui can't sing this song without two packs of cigarettes!"

Yang Yunsheng said, "However, there are some problems with the lyrics!"

The audience below the stage began to boo.

This is outrageous, absolutely outrageous! They've already started criticizing Cui Jian's lyrics.

Yan Hexiang said, "You think there's a problem with Teacher Cui's lyrics?"

Yang Yunsheng said, "Listen to this poem: 'I have to walk from south to north, and from day to night.' Why don't you think he sleeps?"

The audience laughed again, and Yang Yunsheng threw out another tired joke.

What do you mean, "Why aren't you sleeping?" It's none of your business.
Yan Hexiang said, "Why are you meddling in other people's business? You really have nothing better to do than meddle in other people's affairs!"

Yang Yunsheng said, "I'm talking about this word, and there's something wrong with it. Why are you leaving? Don't you know how to take a taxi?"

Yan Hexiang rolled his eyes, looking somewhat disgusted.

"What taxi?"

"Didi Chuxing?"

Yan Hexiang's entire body scrunched up: "What the hell?"

Yang Yunsheng explained, "Didi Taxi, Da Da Di Da Di!"

Yan Hexiang shrugged: "What nonsense! I've never heard of it!"

Yang Yunsheng said, "Anyway, this song, although it doesn't sound very good when sung, makes a lot of sense!" Yan Hexiang understood: "Oh, you're starting to try and salvage the situation!"

Yang Yunsheng objected: "What do you mean by 'making amends'? It means you should think about it carefully. If you spend your whole life thinking about it, you'll never be able to argue with Teacher Cui Jian!"

Yan Hexiang reached up and pulled his sleeve up, looking smug.

"That's because you haven't met me yet. If you had, I'd definitely argue! I have a nickname: the number one argumentative person in West City!"

The audience burst into laughter; they had never seen Yan Hexiang like this before.

Is Yan Hexiang, the number one street hustler in Xicheng, really real?

Yang Yunsheng said, "Since you say you're a stickler for arguments, based on that nickname, I'll sing a line and you can argue with me."

Yan Hexiang nodded: "Okay, you sing, and I'll give you some pointers!"

Yang Yunsheng cleared his throat, ready to begin singing.

After taking a deep breath, Yang Yunsheng said something.

"Did you hear it?"

Yan Hexiang asked in confusion, "No, did you sing it?"

Yang Yunsheng chuckled: "I haven't even sung yet! I was just thinking of making you pay attention!"

The audience burst into laughter again. Why are you asking if you didn't sing? Are you sick in the head?
You're acting crazy! We all thought you were singing!
Yang Yunsheng adjusted his singing again and sang: "When I went out, I felt like my back was against my body!"

Yan Hexiang immediately stuck out his finger and started arguing.

"There's something wrong with this line right away!"

Yang Yunsheng asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"

Yan Hexiang replied, "What word was it again? This one, this one."

The audience was laughing so hard they were doubled over. It seems that what they called "arguing for the sake of arguing" was pure arguing!

Anyone can argue like that!
Yang Yunsheng didn't take it to heart, but instead said, "When I came out, I felt like my back was pointing backward!"

Yan Hexiang immediately retorted, "Going out with your back turned is only because you're too beautiful! Wait a minute, even if going out with your back turned is only because you're too beautiful, that's still pure nonsense!"

The audience didn't quite understand what "Just because you're too beautiful" meant.
Yang Yunsheng replied, "That's not nonsense; there's some truth to it!"

Yan Hexiang hesitated for a moment: "What logic could there be in that?"

Yang Yunsheng sang as he explained, "It's all for the sake of putting the belly first! Take one step forward, take one step back, it's as if you didn't take any. High table, low stool, they're all made of wood. One donkey, two oxen, they're all livestock. Your eldest uncle and your second uncle are both your uncles, isn't that the truth?"

Yan Hexiang said disdainfully, "Yes, yes, yes, that's all true!"

Yang Yunsheng said, "Your eldest uncle and your second uncle are both your uncles. If you don't acknowledge them, your aunt won't allow it!"

Yan Hexiang patted Yang Yunsheng's hand off his shoulder.

"Nonsense, we have to admit it!"

Yang Yunsheng retorted, "But doesn't this tune sound rather unfashionable?"

Yan Hexiang pondered for a while, and it seemed to make sense.

"What can we do?"

Yang Yunsheng said, "So today, let's be stylish on this stage. Let's combine the fashion of rock with the essence of traditional opera to create a rock opera version by Tingyunxuan."

Yan Hexiang shoved Yang Yunsheng: "Get out of here! Retelling a story is not nonsense. You've ruined a perfectly good opera, turning it into a hodgepodge. If our ancestors knew, they'd rise from their coffins and curse you!"

Yang Yunsheng asked curiously, "Then what should I do?"

Yan Hexiang replied, "You should revise it!"

Yang Yunsheng said, "I understand now, I'll sing it again. Gold nuggets, silver nuggets, they're never enough. Heaven is above, earth is below, you're herding cattle! Your eldest uncle and second uncle are livestock, pigs, horses, cattle, and sheep are all in your house!"

Yan Hexiang said, both amused and exasperated, "Get lost!"

The two bowed and began to thank the audience.

Amidst laughter and cheers, the audience applauded Yang Yunsheng and Yan Hexiang as they bid farewell to the duo.

(End of this chapter)