The birth of an actor

Chapter 32 Bamboo tube
"I'm going back. I'll come back first thing tomorrow morning, and I'll give you the money."

Seeing the two hundred yuan the girl handed over, An Xin didn't refuse, took it directly, and said:

"Want some chicken drumsticks for breakfast tomorrow?"

"Eat whatever you want, it's all for you anyway. Don't save any for me, or I might start paying for your meals."

The girl smiled and shook her head, in a great mood.

After Anxin helped her push the bicycle out, she lazily yawned:

"Ah... Ugh. So sleepy, I'm going back. See you tomorrow morning?"

"Okay. Be careful on the way back, watch out for cars."

"Don't worry~"

The girl, who felt hot all over, waved with a grin and rode away on her bicycle.

Anxin also went inside, turned on the fan, and selected a copy of "The Godfather" from the videotapes she had been picking and choosing during the day, then put it into the VCR.

He had seen the movie before, but he didn't have much patience. He only watched the beginning after hearing that it was good.

My impressions of this movie, besides Marlon Brando... are mostly Al Pacino. Aside from the opening scene, his portrayal of the old Godfather doesn't leave much of a lasting impression.

The main problem is that the movie is too old; neither the picture quality nor the costumes appeal to his taste.

But now... he wants to see just how amazing a movie that has been praised for decades really is, and how the actors in it actually perform.

Soon, to the accompaniment of melodious music, a close-up of a person appeared on the screen:
"I believe in America..."

Anxin lazily yawned.

Then, when I came to my senses again, the screen was just a deep blue.

He groggily glanced at the time...

The pointer is pointing to the position "1".

It's almost 1 a.m.

He didn't even know how he fell asleep.

As I recall, the movie had only just started showing?

Without thinking much about it, his mind was still foggy, so he got up, turned off the TV and lights, and threw them onto the bed.

When I opened my eyes again, it was already daylight.

The familiar "Ah~ Ah~~ Ah~~~" sound rang in my ears again.

It works even better than an alarm clock.

Lying in bed, he lazily yawned.

Time: 4:40.

To be honest, he had a surreal feeling, like he was in another world. But then again, he felt a sense of peace and wonder at how simple life could be like this...

pretty good.

So, after lingering on the bed for a few minutes, he finally got up, washed his face and brushed his teeth, changed into a robe with three openings a day, and went out with a birdcage, a snack box and one hundred and eight servants.

Go to a public restroom!

When he came out of the restroom, Fan Bing had arrived. She was standing at the door waiting for him.

Seeing Anxin come out of the restroom, she quickly pinched her nose in disgust:
"Hey~ stay away from me~"

Anxin rolled her eyes:
"You're talking like you have a toilet in your room."

"Hmph... When I'm rich in the future, I'll definitely buy a house with a flush toilet!"

"Look at your meager ambitions."

Anxin's eyes were full of disdain:
"One flush toilet is enough? When I'm rich, I'll install a golden toilet in my house!"

"Haha, then you don't need to clean the toilet."

"why?"

"Think about it, gold is yellow, and what you're pulling..."

"Are you two brats never going to stop? Come in and practice your skills!"

Perhaps because the girl's mouth was full of excrement and urine so disgusting that she woke up early in the morning, Old Ye's commotion came from next door to the courtyard.

Fan Bingbing playfully stuck out her tongue at Anxin and quickly ran over.

……

Unlike yesterday, when the old man taught almost nothing and was preoccupied with reminiscing about the past and his unforgettable, painful longing, today the old man did indeed give the two children a small, profound impact.

Putting everything else aside, the very act of "standing" proved challenging for the two young people who had never been exposed to traditional performing arts.

The elderly didn't take care of activities like hip-opening stretches.

After warming up his voice, he immediately had the two of them practice "quiet exercises".

One of the exercises in meditation is standing.

He stood with a bamboo tube, about the size of a rice bowl, balanced on his head.

Stand for half an hour to make sure the bamboo tube doesn't fall to the ground.

This is the most basic.

In the words of the old folks, when the bamboo tube can no longer fall off, they will replace it with a bowl with a smaller base.

When you can stand up without dropping the bowl, you've entered the first stage of this static exercise.

And this is just the most basic stuff.

Fan Bing also asked, "Did the leading actors in opera troupes all train like this in the past?"

The old man's response was:
"Regardless of whether they're a star or not, they have to do it this way."

Fine.

Then just stand there.

Facing the rising sun, exposed to the wind and dew, they were fine at first, not feeling anything amiss. But after a few minutes, both of them felt their whole bodies begin to tingle. Adding to this, something was pressing down on their heads, and they instinctively wanted to get rid of it, but couldn't move. So their muscles gave a feedback signal similar to trembling.

With a slight tremor, the bamboo tube fell to the ground with two thuds.

The elderly man, who had just finished packing his clothes and was about to go out for a bird walk, glanced at Anxin upon seeing this:
"Continue. I'm going for a stroll."

After saying that, without caring whether the two children would slack off, he picked up the birdcage and left the house.

Jishuitan Hospital is next to Shichahai Park, and it's his daily, unwavering destination.

As soon as the old man left, there were two "thumps" and the bamboo tube on Fan Bing's head fell off.

"Ouch... my neck is completely numb."

She complained once, then put the bamboo tube back on her head.

Neither she nor Anxin intended to slack off.

However, after the old man left, the two were able to chat:
"I didn't even wash my face when I got home yesterday, and I don't even know how I fell asleep in bed."

"What a coincidence, me too. I was planning to watch 'The Godfather,' but as soon as the movie started, I knew nothing more."

"You rented a videotape?"

"Hmm, are you going to work later? If not, can you watch it with me?"

"No, but I need to find a training course... I was just about to tell you about this. I'm looking for a new acting training course, will you... come with me?"

"Dong dong."

As soon as Fan Bing finished speaking, the bamboo tube above her head fell off again.

She quickly bent down to pick it up, looking at the puzzled Anxin. "Training course?"

"Correct."

"Aren't you a student at Xie Jin's Star Academy? Why do you need to attend a training course?"

"I... I've actually already graduated."

She dared not speak loudly, and could only keep her lips trembling slightly.

Anxin was somewhat puzzled:

"You said you only started college last year, which isn't even a year yet, right? And didn't you say you came to Yanjing in March or April? How did you graduate already?"

dong dong.

His bamboo tube also fell.

Anxin quickly picked it up and realized that... you really can't open your mouth too wide when you talk, otherwise this thing is easy to drop.

The girl seemed somewhat embarrassed to ask him questions.

Instinctively shaking his head:

"The specifics are... quite complicated, anyway..."

dong dong.

Oh dear! It's all your fault!

"...You shook your head yourself, why blame me?"

"I'll only respond if you talk to me!"

Anxin rolled her eyes.

After Fan Bing put the bamboo tube back on her head, she said:

"Anyway, I'm going to find a new acting class. Do you want to come with me?"

"...Why does this feel like the plot of 'Comrades: Almost a Love Story'?"

Hearing his words, the girl was stunned for a moment, and then she suddenly realized that he was talking about Li Qiao tricking Li Xiaojun into learning English and enrolling him in an English tutoring class to earn a commission from each student.

Laughs out loud...

dong dong.

"oops!!!!!!"

Seeing her jumping up and down, An felt more at ease and stood more steadily.

As for the acting training class...

How are these kinds of classes usually conducted?

"They're mostly taught by teachers from the Central Academy of Drama or the Beijing Film Academy, about two or three classes a week. Let me tell you, these kinds of courses are actually quite important. Because they teach things that are taught in schools... knowledge is power. For people like us who can't get into university..."

"Let me correct you. It's you who didn't go to university. I'm a genuine top student from Renmin University. We're not the same."

"..."

Fan Bing was immediately trembling with anger.

then……

dong dong.

"Ah!!!! I'll kick you to death!!!...Hey, why didn't you dodge?"

"What am I doing... Hey you!"

dong dong dong...

Looking at the bamboo tube that had been pulled off, Anxin rolled her eyes speechlessly.

childish.

Helpless, he picked up the bamboo tube again and put it back on his head.

As for finding a training course, he agreed to go with Fan Bing.

Because he genuinely wanted to learn more specialized knowledge.

If he initially entered the industry with the goal of earning his first pot of gold, then the events of the past few days since arriving in Yanjing have sparked a strong interest in acting in him.

Putting everything else aside, just yesterday when he was acting with Sister Weiwei, who wanted to get his phone number... he never imagined that he would fall in love with someone in such a short time.

I like her, I love her, and I want to spend my whole life with her.

This love is overwhelming.

So much so that after leaving that state, he had a strange sense of novelty, like "Am I sick?"

It's like a simp has taken over your body.

But Anxin felt as if she was watching "others" act out a play.

He remained aloof, watching as the masses, who belonged to the "others," played out their joys and sorrows in their own stories.

This taste...

It's quite enjoyable.

He really wanted to experience it more deeply.

Not for fame, not for money... He firmly believes that as long as he makes the right choices, he will definitely achieve financial freedom in the future and then live the life he desires, a life free from the constraints of trivial realities.

Now, in this "longing for life," the "actor" option, which was never even considered before, has suddenly gained more weight.

Now that the high mountains are in sight.

Well then... let's give it a try.

……

It's past six o'clock.

Old Ye, carrying a birdcage in his left hand and a plastic bag in his right, pushed open the door and walked in.

At first glance, he saw two children with a fine layer of sweat on their foreheads looking at him with a bamboo tube on their heads.

Having mentored many apprentices in his youth, Instructor Ye was incredibly experienced. He could tell at a glance that these two kids hadn't slacked off since he left.

A hint of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

This kind of training isn't something that can be done in a day; it's a slow and steady process, like water dripping on a stone.

Be persistent, diligent, and avoid being careless.

This is the most important quality for stars to achieve fame.

And this...

Both kids did a great job.

So he waved the bag in his hand:

"Alright, let's have breakfast. Bingbing, here, go to the kitchen and get a bowl."

"Okay... Huh? Meat?"

The old man chuckled as he looked at the girl with the absurd expression of "eating meat in the morning."

When a child is growing, they can eat three meals a day, let alone breakfast.

Not to mention that although it can't compare to Feilong, Tianfuhao's braised beef is still quite good. Besides, without connections, you can't buy this freshly cooked, piping hot beef early in the morning.

(End of this chapter)