Huayu97: Starting with Wu Song Fighting the Tiger

Director Zhang grasped Secretary Wang's hand, tears streaming down his face, "Secretary Wang, thank you so much! I'm so sorry to have troubled you!"

Party Secretary Wang waved his hand dismissively: "Don't mention it! Filming 'Water Margin' is a big deal! Everyone in our village is hoping to be on TV!"

Dinner was indeed plentiful, with stewed chicken, stir-fried rabbit, and various wild mountain vegetables. Liu Xiang was starving and wolfed down three large bowls of rice, stuffing his stomach until it was round and full. After dinner, he joined the film crew in setting up tents in the classroom. Once the tents were set up, he lay inside, listening to the chirping of insects outside the window, his heart filled with anticipation.

The next morning, the crew headed deep into Wulei Mountain. The scenes at Jingyanggang were filmed in a desolate forest, where the trees grew so tall they blocked out the sun, the wild grass was taller than a person, and the ground was covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves, soft and spongy underfoot. The props team worked through the night to build a dilapidated mountain god temple, with the words "Travelers, do not go here, tigers may harm you!" written on the walls.

Eight large, crooked characters exuded a sinister aura. At the foot of the mountain, there was a small tavern with a sign that read "Three bowls and you're done." When the wind blew, the sign would rustle, creating quite a scene.

Before filming began, Director Zhang called Liu Xiang aside, patted him on the shoulder, and looked as serious as if he were about to give him some important instructions: "Liu Xiang, the tiger-fighting scene is your most important scene. You have to portray Wu Song's boldness, bravery, and a bit of recklessness after drinking. Most importantly—the scene with the tiger!"

Liu Xiang wasn't flustered at all; he had long been a "mountain king" buddy.

He patted his chest and said with a smile, "Director Zhang, don't worry! I'll definitely give a good performance!"

The first scene of the tiger-fighting drama is Wu Song drinking and eating meat at a tavern at the foot of the mountain.

The tavern tables were made of solid old wood, bearing several knife marks, showing their age. The tavern owner was played by a local veteran actor surnamed Liu, his face wrinkled more than tree bark. He slammed a large, rough porcelain bowl down on the table with a loud "bang!" and declared in a booming voice, "Sir, our wine is so good, three bowls and you're done! But if you want to cross the hill, don't drink too much!"

Liu Xiang, who plays Wu Song, throws his luggage into the corner as soon as he enters the tavern, sits down on a stool with an air of nonchalance, and shouts at the top of his lungs, "Waiter, two catties of cooked beef, and three bowls of wine!"

The props team quickly brought over a large plate, neatly arranged with real braised beef, its color a vibrant red, its aroma irresistible even from a distance. Liu Xiang's eyes widened in amazement. Film crews in the 1990s were truly honest; even for scenes of eating, they used only the finest ingredients. Unlike later film crews who would use plastic props to fool the audience when filming meals.

As for the wine, Director Zhang had already told him—the crew used yellow wine, but it wasn't very strong. But Wu Song was going to drink eighteen bowls! If he really drank that much, he probably wouldn't even be able to walk, let alone act out the tiger-fighting scene.

Therefore, the props team specially prepared two kinds of wine: one was real Shaoxing wine, used for close-up shots; the other was Shaoxing wine diluted with water, with an alcohol content as low as a beverage, specifically for filming the scene where Wu Song drinks from a large bowl.

Liu Xiang looked at the Shaoxing wine on the table, a question forming in his mind. In his past life, he had never touched alcohol; a single beer would leave him completely drunk, let alone this Shaoxing wine. Before filming began, Liu Xiang secretly spoke to the props crew leader: "Brother, could you dilute it with some water? I can't hold my liquor, and I'm afraid drinking too much will interfere with filming."

The props team leader chuckled, patted him on the shoulder, and grinned mysteriously, "Brother Liu, don't worry! I've already mixed it for you. The alcohol in this isn't even as strong as the orange soda you drink! I guarantee you won't get drunk!"

Only then did Liu Xiang breathe a sigh of relief.

The moment the script supervisor yelled "Action!", Liu Xiang grabbed a large, rough porcelain bowl from the table and started chugging it down her throat. The diluted rice wine had little flavor, but carried a hint of rice aroma. Liu Xiang deliberately acted heartily, drinking bowl after bowl. When she got really into it, she slammed the bowl on the table and shouted, "Waiter, three more bowls!"

His demeanor was exactly like that of a chivalrous and forthright hero.

Liu Xiang was thoroughly enjoying the braised beef on his plate. He ate with gusto, a sip of wine followed by a bite of meat, his mouth greasy and dripping with oil, not even bothering to wipe the bits of meat from his lips. Teacher Liu, playing the tavern owner, watched with wide eyes, thinking to himself: Is this young man genuinely hungry, or is he just getting too into character? His eating manners are so realistic!

Actually, Liu Xiang was really hungry. She had gotten up too early that morning and walked for more than half an hour with the film crew, only managing to eat two steamed buns. Now, smelling the aroma of braised beef, how could she resist?

This scene was filmed three times. Liu Xiang ate almost half a pound of braised beef, his stomach was so round and he was almost swaying as he walked. When they wrapped up, the stagehand joked with him, "Brother Liu, the way you eat, you've captured Wu Song's forthrightness to the core! I think you're not just playing Wu Song, you *are* Wu Song!"

Liu Xiang patted her round belly, let out a burp, and smiled sheepishly, a few bits of meat still clinging to the corner of her mouth: "I couldn't help it, the beef was just too delicious, I couldn't resist."

Instantly, everyone around him burst into laughter.

The next scene is the highlight: Wu Song, drunk, goes up Jingyang Ridge and encounters a tiger.

To film this scene, the crew cleared the set, leaving only essential staff and two keepers. "Mountain King" was released from its cage and secured with a specially made, thick, and sturdy leash. The two keepers held it on either side, each carrying a training stick. "Mountain King" flicked its tail, surveyed the surrounding forest, and emitted a low, guttural growl that sent chills down everyone's spine.

The extras, terrified, retreated hastily, hiding behind trees, barely daring to breathe. The extra playing the hunter, surnamed Zhang, was trembling in the knees, whispering to the person next to him, "My god, this tiger is ferocious! Brother Liu is going to have a scene with it later, will he get hurt? This is a real tiger, it can bite off a person's arm in one bite!"

The extras beside him nodded in agreement, their faces full of worry: "Who says otherwise! Brother Liu is still human, can he handle it? I doubt it!"

These words reached Liu Xiang's ears, but he merely grinned and remained silent. He walked over to "Mountain King," and the two keepers loosened the leash. Liu Xiang slowly reached out and gently stroked "Mountain King's" back. The tiger's fur was thick and soft, warm to the touch.

The tiger felt his touch, but instead of getting angry, the "mountain king" rubbed his head against his palm and made a comfortable gurgling sound.

The two zookeepers exchanged a smile, and Brother Li said with a laugh, "See? If it were anyone else, it would have turned on us long ago!"

The moment the script supervisor yelled "Action!", Liu Xiang staggered up Jingyang Ridge.

His face was flushed with drunkenness, and he was humming an off-key tune. His steps were unsteady, and he kept kicking stones on the ground, looking completely intoxicated.