Huayu97: Starting with Wu Song Fighting the Tiger

Lan Xiaoling and the other girls all said it was okay, and then they all turned and left.

Liu Xiang leaned against the door frame, watching their figures disappear around the corner of the stairwell, before turning back into her room, a smile still on her lips. That's the good thing about film crews in the 1990s—there weren't so many twists and turns. Everyone got along like family, and the warm human touch enveloped you completely.

Just as he was about to sit down, there was another knock on the door. It turned out that Kang Honglei had come to see him.

Kang Honglei said seriously, "Liu Xiang, Director Zhang said he wants to audition the scene where Chai Jin hosts the guests!"

Liu Xiang asked earnestly, "Director Kang, is there anything I need to pay attention to in this scene?"

"Don't underestimate this scene just because it's a dialogue scene; it's very nuanced. Wu Song had just escaped from Qinghe County and carried the rough edge of a desperate fugitive. His pockets were emptier than his face, but when facing a wealthy man like Chai Jin, he couldn't lose the manners of a chivalrous hero. That dignified yet humble demeanor had to be perfectly controlled—too much and he'd be too arrogant, too little and he'd be too cowardly!"

After saying that, Kang Honglei handed the script to Liu Xiang.

After taking the script, Liu Xiang carefully flipped through it.

In the 1990s, scripts for film crews were printed with ink on rough, yellowed paper, with slightly frayed edges. They felt rough to the touch and had a faint smell of ink. Director Zhang's annotations were densely written on them, circled in red and blue ink like a flower, clearly marking which words should be emphasized and where to pause.

He turned to the section "Chai Jin of Heng Hai County Hosts Guests," and his eyes were immediately captivated. This passage tells the story of Wu Song fleeing to Chai Family Manor, where Chai Jin, upon hearing of a hero's arrival, personally goes out to greet him, and the two converse in the hall. The dialogue is sparse, but every word is full of drama; a single glance or gesture reveals the character's personality.

The original owner was a clueless young man from a martial arts school, who relied entirely on brute force to get extra roles, his emotions written all over his face, like a stone that had never been enlightened. But Liu Xiang was different. His mind was full of 21st-century film and television analysis, he knew everything about micro-expressions, body language, and character arcs, and could even give a comparison of several versions of Wu Song's performance.

He grabbed his script and ran back to his dorm, practicing his lines against the white wall. One moment he'd put on a stern, hard-edged expression, like a desperate outlaw, his eyes wary and even distant; the next he'd relax his shoulders, revealing the carefree spirit of a chivalrous outlaw, the curve of his smile perfectly timed. He muttered to himself, "I am from Qinghe County, my surname is Wu, my given name is Song, and I am the second son..."

As Liu Xiang got into the swing of practicing, he simply put on the blue short-sleeved shirt that the film crew had sent him. The shirt was made of coarse linen, with loose threads still sticking out of the stitches, making it a little uncomfortable to wear. However, it was neat and tidy, and it accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist. Combined with the bruises from last night's fight, it gave him a worldly and rugged air that seemed tailor-made for him.

Soon it was 10 a.m., and the camera positions were already set up in the studio. The lighting technician was holding a reflector and adjusting the angle, while the props team was still touching up the paint on the corners of the octagonal table.

Zhang Shaolin stood in front of the set with his hands behind his back, his brows slightly furrowed, seemingly deep in thought.

Guo Baochang sat behind the monitor, holding a tin cigarette case in his hand, taking a puff every now and then, the smoke drifting up and obscuring his face.

The set was built based on the front hall of Chai Family Village. The eight-immortal table and grand master chairs were all made of solid old wood, looking quite heavy. On the wall hung a traditional Chinese ink painting of "All men are brothers under heaven," with the ink blending just right. In the corner was a blue and white porcelain vase, obviously a cheap find from a flea market by the props team. There were still some mud spots on the bottom of the vase, giving it a down-to-earth and authentic feel.

The actor playing Chai Jin was a veteran actor surnamed Zhao. His hair was completely white, and when he sat down in the armchair, holding a small purple clay teapot, he exuded the air of a wealthy manor lord. Even the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes revealed his elegance and demeanor. When Mr. Zhao saw Liu Xiang enter, he waved to him and said with a smile, "Young man, don't be shy. Let's just go through it once. It's okay if you make a mistake; just treat it as a chat."

The script supervisor held up the clapperboard and shouted "Action!" After the crisp sound, the entire studio fell silent instantly, with only the hum of the ceiling fans remaining.

Liu Xiang took a deep breath and stepped into the hall. He didn't rush to speak, but first lowered his head and clasped his hands in a fist, but he didn't bend over. His back was straight, and his posture showed both respect for Chai Jin and the pride of a hero. He was neither humble nor arrogant, just right.

"Wu Song greets Master Chai." His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, with a slightly hoarse quality, as if honed by traveling thousands of miles. The last syllable was slightly refrained, revealing a hint of caution.

Teacher Zhao, playing Chai Jin, put down the purple clay teapot he was holding, raised his hand in a gesture of support, and said in a gentle voice, "Warrior, there's no need for such formality. We greatly respect heroes!"

According to the script, Wu Song should then cup his hands in thanks and say a few polite words.

But Liu Xiang suddenly paused. His gaze swept over the wine pot on the table, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, as if he had remembered something or was suppressing the thirst in his heart. Then he grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. His smile was a bit simple and honest, and also a bit straightforward like a江湖人 (jianghu person): "You flatter me, sir."

This subtle movement, this fleeting glance, made Guo Baochang's eyes light up behind the monitor. He forgot to smoke his cigarette and sat up abruptly.

Zhang Shaolin's lips curled up slightly, his furrowed brows relaxed, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

This scene was filmed three times, each take smoother than the last. Liu Xiang became more and more uninhibited in his performance, incorporating the acting techniques he learned in the 21st century into the character. When walking, he deliberately took large strides, his steps steady, with a touch of the roughness of a martial artist.

When talking about his previous days as a wanderer, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes before quickly disappearing; when drinking, he downed the bowl in one gulp, not caring that some wine spilled down his chin onto his clothes, wiping his mouth with a carefree and natural gesture.

He even added a small detail—when he spoke of his escape here, he subtly took half a step back, creating some distance, and a hint of barely perceptible melancholy flashed in his eyes. This small gesture immediately brought the character of Wu Song to life, transforming him from a simplistic wanderer into a flesh-and-blood figure, a man of the martial world tinged with helplessness and despair.

"Cut!" Zhang Shaolin called out, clapping his hands as he walked over, his smile practically widening, the wrinkles around his eyes crinkling with laughter. "Good! Good lad! You're a quick learner! That detail was added perfectly, spot on!"

Guo Baochang also stood up and, unusually, offered a compliment, his tone tinged with admiration: "That look in your eyes just now, that subtle movement of your Adam's apple bobbing, was spot on. Wu Song is a rough man, a straightforward person, and a desperate fugitive with a grudge; you captured the essence."