Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 346, Section 344: Popular Broadcast 1
April Fool's Day arrived in the blink of an eye.

On this day, the highly anticipated drama series "Crossing the Guandong," co-produced by Shengying Media and Enlight Media, will be broadcast on CCTV-1's prime time slot.

Last December, this epic production, which embodies the hard work of Wang Sheng, Huo Jianqi, Han Sanping, and the Shenyang team, wrapped up filming in the icy and snowy Northeast.

After intensive post-production and review, the first broadcast rights were acquired by CCTV-1 at a high price in February.

After more than a month of scheduling and hype, it has finally been scheduled to premiere on April 1st at 8 PM, officially meeting audiences nationwide.

The "Shengying + Enlight Media" TV drama production company, honed through productions like "Lurking" and "Liu Laogen," has long been a golden brand in the hearts of viewers, signifying a guarantee of quality, reputation, and viewership.

The news had already spread throughout the country through newspapers, television announcements, and radio broadcasts. Countless families tuned into CCTV-1 early after dinner, eagerly anticipating this audiovisual feast.

At 8 o'clock sharp, as the familiar theme music of CCTV-1 ended and the screen went dark, the powerful and poignant sound of the suona, with its strong Shandong flavor, suddenly rang out, like a shout that transcended time and space, instantly capturing the ears of all the viewers.

The opening sequence unfolds:

The cracked land of Qilu, farmers kneeling in despair, the raging Yellow River, the snow-covered mountains of Guandong, and the refugees, families in tow, staggering with faltering steps...

A series of powerful and poignant images, accompanied by Han Lei's soaring and melancholic voice: "Going to the Northeast, taking one step and looking back, tears welling up in my eyes..."

It instantly transports people to that era of natural disasters, man-made calamities, and widespread suffering.

After the opening credits, the main feature begins.

Episode 1: A Glimmer of Hope Amidst Despair
The camera first focuses on Zhujia Village, Zhangqiu, Shandong Province, in 1904.

Dry winds swept across the loess land, raising clouds of dust.

A somber mood hung heavy in the Zhu family's dilapidated courtyard.

The mother of the Zhu family, "Wen's Mother," played by Sarina, is frowning as she worries about not being able to raise enough millet for her eldest son, Zhu Chuanwen (played by Huang Xiaoming), to marry Tan Xian'er (played by Huo Siyan), the daughter of the Tan family.

Zhu Chuanwen is honest and kind, his face filled with anticipation for the future and helplessness in the face of reality.

With great difficulty, the Zhu family scraped together enough money, even selling their only valuable possessions, to finally gather a bushel of millet.

Zhu Chuanwen pushed his wheelbarrow with great joy to the Tan family to welcome the bride. The bag of golden millet carried the whole family's hopes for a better life.

However, fate tricked people.

On the way, a group of fierce-looking bandits rushed out and robbed the life-saving "bride price".

Zhu Chuanwen was knocked to the ground, watching helplessly as his hope was taken away. His desperate eyes, seen through the screen, pierced the hearts of countless viewers.

"My millet! My freshie!" Zhu Chuanwen lay on the ground, pounding the earth, his mournful cries heartbreaking.

The marriage fell through, and then a series of bad news followed.

Officials came to inform her that her husband, Zhu Kaishan, who had been away from home for four years to join the Boxer Rebellion, had been executed.

The series of blows caused even the strong-willed Wen's mother to completely break down.

She sent her three sons away and went alone to the well at the village entrance. Gazing at the deep well water, she felt utterly hopeless.

"Mother! You can't die!" The second son, Zhu Chuanwu (played by Deng Chao), sensed something was wrong and rushed over with his younger brother, Chuanjie (played by a young actor), and hugged their mother tightly.

The scene of the mother and her four children embracing and weeping brought tears to the eyes of countless viewers in front of their televisions.

In this desperate situation, a glimmer of light appeared.

A man from the same village who had once received favors from Zhu Kaishan secretly came to deliver the news: Zhu Kaishan was not dead! He had escaped execution and was now in Guandong, waiting to reunite with his family!
This news was like a lighthouse in the dark night, instantly illuminating the Zhu family's despairing hearts.

Wen's mother wiped away her tears, her eyes regaining their resolve: "Let's go! We'll go to Northeast China to find your father!"

Their resolute courage touched every viewer.

Meanwhile, Tan Xian'er, who is deeply in love with Chuanwen, learns of the Zhu family's plight and, despite her family's strong opposition, secretly leaves home to pursue her Chuanwen brother.

A twist of fate caused her to miss the Zhu family, who were packing their bags to leave, foreshadowing the hardships that would follow.

The Zhu family sold their belongings and traveled a difficult journey to Longkou Port in Shandong.

The dock was packed with people, all refugees waiting to cross the sea to Northeast China.

Suffering from hunger and cold, and plagued by malaria, people fell one after another, their lives hanging by a thread.

The footage realistically depicts the tragic conditions during the escape, and the oppressive atmosphere is suffocating.

Episode 2: Separation and Reunion, Crisis Lurks
At Longkou Port, the Zhu family went through countless hardships and finally managed to squeeze onto the last batch of ships bound for Northeast China.

Just as the boat was about to leave the shore, they saw Xian'er chasing after them, panting and covered in dust!
"Brother Chuanwen! Auntie!" Xian'er shouted desperately from the shore.

On one side was the opportunity for survival within reach, and on the other was his lonely and helpless fiancée.

At the critical moment, the eldest son, Chuanwen, made a decision. He glanced at his mother and brothers, then looked deeply at Xian'er on the shore, and suddenly jumped into the sea, swimming desperately towards the shore. "Chuanwen!" His mother's shouts were swallowed by the sea breeze.

The family was thus separated across the strait—Chuanwen and Xian'er traveled by land, while Wen's mother led Chuanwu and Chuanjie by water, all with the common goal of reaching the distant and unknown Guandong.

Journeys at sea are equally fraught with danger.

The Russo-Japanese War was breaking out on Chinese territory, with shells falling from the sea from time to time, and ships could be sunk at any moment.

In a chaotic moment, the young Chuanjie cleverly saved the life of merchant Xia Yuanzhang (played by Li Xuejian). This act of kindness laid an important foundation for the Zhu family's future foothold in Guandong.

After many twists and turns, the boat carrying Wen's mother and son finally arrived at Lushun Port.

However, upon landing, they found the town devastated by war, littered with corpses.

Xia Yuanzhang stumbled home and discovered that, apart from his youngest daughter Yushu who had miraculously escaped, his entire family had perished.

Bi Yanjun perfectly portrayed the immense grief of losing a loved one in middle age; that silent despair was more impactful than loud wailing.

On the other side, Wen's mother, along with Chuanwu and Chuanjie, relied on the vague address in Zhu Kaishan's letter and inquired along the way. After many hardships, they finally arrived at Yuanbao Town.

At the edge of the birch forest outside the town, they saw that familiar yet unfamiliar figure—Zhu Kaishan (played by veteran actor Li Youbin)!
Li Youbin's portrayal of Zhu Kaishan is characterized by his upright posture, resolute face, and sharp, weathered eyes.

He stood there, like a silent old pine tree on the black soil of Northeast China.

When he saw his wife, whom he hadn't seen for years, and his now-grown son, the muscles in his face twitched slightly. The emotions he had suppressed for so long finally manifested as a tight embrace and a slightly hoarse whisper: "You're here..."

At this moment, countless viewers in front of their televisions breathed a sigh of relief, feeling gratified at the reunion of the Zhu family.

On another route, Chuanwen and Xian'er traveled by land and were robbed by bandits. They fled all the way and luckily escaped the robbery. They had no choice but to work for a wealthy stranger and barely survived a cold winter.

The story didn't linger long on the heartwarming reunion of the Zhu family in Yuanbao Town.

The dumplings for the New Year's Eve dinner had just been served, and the festive sound of firecrackers was still echoing in their ears, when an uninvited guest knocked on the Zhu family's door.

The messenger brought devastating news: He Laosi, Zhu Kaishan's sworn brother who had fought alongside him in the Boxer Rebellion, had been murdered in the infamous "Golden Field," a place known for its ruthless cannibalism!

The death of He Laosi was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake.

The joy of their reunion was instantly shattered.

Zhu Kaishan listened in silence, his facial muscles tense, his eyes churning with shock, grief, and uncontrollable anger.

"This grudge must be avenged," he said resolutely.

"Dad! Is that gold mine a place for humans? It's a place where you're almost guaranteed to die! Our family has finally reunited..." Wen's mother burst into tears, tightly gripping her husband's arm.

"Father, you can't go!" The three sons also tried to dissuade him.

But Zhu Kaishan was determined. In order to seek justice for his brother, he knowingly ventured into dangerous territory.

The camera focuses on his resolute figure as he pushes open the door and walks into the biting cold wind outside.

The second episode ends abruptly here, leaving behind huge suspense and anticipation.

……

The first two episodes of "Crossing the Guandong" instantly ignited ratings and public opinion with their solid script, superb acting skills, meticulous details, and grand and tragic historical background.

In a traditional courtyard house in a Beijing alley, several old neighbors gathered at Grandpa Wang's house. After watching two episodes, they sighed with emotion: "The Zhu family has had it so tough! This is the real story of venturing into Northeast China, much better than those fictionalized accounts!"

"Li Youbin and Zhu Kaishan have a certain spirit! Just looking at them is inspiring!"

"The second son, Chuanwu, is clever; the third son, Chuanjie, is righteous; and the eldest son, Chuanwen, is too honest. They're probably going to suffer..."

In ordinary families in Shenyang, Northeast China, the elderly watched the show with great interest, which even evoked their own memories: "My great-grandfather's generation migrated to Northeast China, just like in the TV series. They suffered a lot on the way..."

“Yuanbao Town sounds so familiar; many place names in this remote area are like that.”

……

"This production quality is truly impressive! They can even make a historical drama this good!"

"Gao Yuanyuan's portrayal of Xian'er is truly beautiful and daring; she even dared to elope for love!"

"I think Zhu Kaishan is a real man, loyal and righteous!"

It has sparked heated discussions among the public.

……

(End of this chapter)