Seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune, I became a legend in the entertainment industry by avo

Zhang Qilin asked curiously:

"What do you want to talk about?"

"He said he wanted to confirm the shooting plan with you and also talk about future collaborations," Sun Yu said.

Cooperation?

Zhang Qilin fell into deep thought.

He's still in his internship period, and according to regulations, he can't take on any acting roles.

However, shooting for a magazine doesn't take much time.

If a long-term partnership can be established, he can occasionally perform in some of the theater's plays.

With the addition of Weibo promotion, they can maintain their exposure for at least the next two years.

At least, we won't become complete strangers two years from now.

After thinking it through, Zhang Qilin nodded and said:

"Could you help me arrange a specific time and place with Esquire magazine?"

I hung up the phone.

Zhang Qilin took out the book "A True Account of Life in Beiping".

Opening the book, one sees densely packed lead type.

The rickshaw pullers were all illiterate, the lowest rungs of society, laborers with no education or social background whatsoever…

The car rental company owner only exploits drivers; if they are late with their rent payments, he sends thugs to their homes, and breaking arms and legs is commonplace...

In order to pay their dues on time, this group resorted to scrambling for customers and fighting, showing neither a spirit of mutual assistance nor a sense of community...

In order to make money, when they encountered someone wearing a long gown, they would first complain that they hadn't made any business that day; when they encountered someone wearing shorts, they would quote the real price to avoid trouble...

As Zhang Qilin watched, his brows furrowed unconsciously.

The descriptions in the book always made him feel that something was wrong.

In the script, Xiao Shunzi often bickers and plays around with Hu Niu, which is one of the comedic elements in the play.

He called Tiger Girl a "broken piece of trash," while Tiger Girl called him a "little Shunzi who's missing eight generations of his life."

This playful banter reflects a relatively equal interpersonal relationship within the car factory.

Xiao Shunzi and Xiangzi are friends. In the end, Xiangzi says he is going to find Xiao Shunzi.

Xiao Shunzi maintained the same level of respect a rickshaw driver would have for his boss when dealing with Master Liu, and obeyed his orders during the preparations for Master Liu's birthday banquet.

The mutual sympathy and hope for the future among the working class, including Lao Ma and Xiao Ma.

He felt that the book might be based on true events, but not on Xiao Shunzi from "Rickshaw Boy".

If he were to use material from this book to write his biography, the character of Xiao Shunzi would be completely overturned.

He put the book aside; he needed to find someone to verify the truthfulness of what was written in it.

The following morning.

8:30

Zhang Qilin was resting in the rehearsal hall on the first floor when his phone vibrated in his pocket.

He took it out and saw that it was a call from Sun Yu.

He took his phone outside the rehearsal hall before answering it.

"Brother Lin," Sun Yu's voice came through the phone, "I've made an appointment with Editor-in-Chief Zhou for noon..."

"No problem, I'll come over then."

Noon, 11:30

Dongsi Shitiao.

There's a teahouse deep in the alley, inconspicuous on the street, but its courtyard is tidy and quiet.

Zhang Qilin and Sun Yu pushed open the door and entered the private room.

Inside, I saw a woman in her thirties with short hair and thin-rimmed glasses sitting there.

Sitting next to me was a man in his forties wearing a suit, who exuded a scholarly air.

The two men stood up at the same time when they saw Zhang Qilin enter.

"Teacher Zhang, it's an honor to meet you," Editor-in-Chief Zhou said, extending his hand with a polite smile. "I'm Zhou Ying from Esquire magazine."

"Hello, Teacher Zhou," Zhang Qilin shook hands, then turned to the middle-aged man and nodded slightly.

"This is Professor Fu," Editor-in-Chief Zhou introduced, stepping aside. "A historian who studies the social customs of Beiping during the Republic of China era. Hearing that you wanted to learn about the customs of the Republic of China, we specially invited Professor Fu here."

Professor Fu smiled, without much formality, and simply said:

"disturb."

After exchanging pleasantries, Zhou Ying got straight to the point:

"Mr. Zhang, we are very interested in your idea. Combining stage play rehearsals, filming in the style of the Republic of China era, and in-depth character exploration is a great planning idea."

"Professor Fu's father was a scholar who studied history during the Republic of China period. His oral history materials on the various social classes and the daily life of people at that time came from his family and can be said to be the most authentic first-hand materials."

Professor Fu was in his forties, and Zhang Qilin was initially skeptical that he could answer his questions.

But I've heard about his family's scholarly background, so it shouldn't be too far off from the truth.

"Professor Fu," Zhang Qilin said, looking at Professor Fu, "I have a question."

"Speaking."

"I once read a claim," Zhang Qilin said, thinking to himself, "that rickshaw pullers in Republican-era Beiping were illiterate, exploited by rickshaw companies, fought each other over customers, and lacked any sense of community. Is that true?"

Professor Fu gently placed the covered bowl down.

"It's true."

He paused for a moment.

"In the archives and in the newspaper news of the time, you can see information about their disputes, fights, rent arrears, injuries, and so on..."

Could you please elaborate?

Professor Fu nodded:

"They were the lowest class in society at the time, not only below urban commoners but also below rural farmers. They were uncultured and uneducated, and their low quality led to their marginalization in the city."

"In the bustling metropolis with its bright lights and vibrant nightlife, they are easily influenced by bad habits in society. Moreover, they are a highly mobile group. Scholars generally believe that rickshaw pullers typically work for three to five years at most."

"The rickshaw pullers are a microcosm of Republican society, reflecting the living conditions and social contradictions of the urban underclass."

Zhang Qilin took notes while asking questions:

"Therefore, they have no friends."

Professor Fu glanced at him and put down his teacup:

"In those circumstances, powerful and influential people could bully or even kill them; few coachmen could survive for more than three years..."

Zhang Qilin asked curiously,

"But in Lao She's 'Rickshaw Boy,' the rickshaw pullers had a good relationship?"

"You asked about the creative process," Professor Fu said with a meaningful smile. "Historical records tell us that it was the actual situation at the time, but Lao She did not write about rickshaw pullers in a statistical sense."

After hearing Professor Fu's words, Zhang Qilin became even more confused.

Professor Fu clearly agrees with the book's claims.

He didn't ask any further questions.

"Thank you, Teacher Fu," he looked up, "I understand."

Zhang Qilin is currently in a dilemma. According to Professor Fu, if he wants to play Xiao Shunzi well, he has to completely overturn the script, but Director Gu definitely won't agree to that.

If he doesn't act as a real rickshaw driver, but imitates the one described in the book, then the competition between him and Chen Mo will be a foregone conclusion.

Hey~

You should ask someone who has actually seen the driver.

But in such a vast city as the capital, where would these people live?

Seeing that Zhang Qilin seemed to be deep in thought, Zhou Ying smiled and said:

"Mr. Zhang, regarding this Republic of China-style photoshoot..."

Zhang Qilin composed himself and discussed filming and future collaborations with Zhou Ying.

The two of them have no problem with the general direction; they can discuss the specific details later.

Having reached an agreement, he got up to take his leave.

He needed to go back and report the filming to Professor Feng Yuanzheng.

After listening to Zhang Qilin's request for filming, Feng Yuanzheng revealed a meaningful smile.

He didn't expect this student to be so adept at finding loopholes and directly linking himself to the play that the college was promoting.

In that case, even if the matter is reported to the leadership, there would be no reason not to approve it in order to amplify its impact.

Feng Yuanzheng smiled and said to Zhang Qilin:

"I'll talk to the dean and get back to you in the next couple of days."

"Thank you, teacher," Zhang Qilin bowed. "If there's nothing else, I'll go to rehearsal now."

When Feng Yuanzheng heard about the rehearsal, he seemed to remember something:

"By the way, I found out that there are still a few elderly people in their seventies and eighties living in the old hutongs of western Beijing. They used to be apprentices in a car dealership and worked as drivers on monthly contracts when they were young."