Huayu: Starting from managing the Mahua FunAge Theater Troupe

I waited for a while.

Liu Liu and his assistant arrived.

In front of Guangde Tower.

Liu Liu was quite surprised to see Shi Fukuan there as well.

Surprised as he was, Liu Liu exchanged glances and shook hands with Shen Feiyang, the person in charge today.

Shen Feiyang bowed slightly and said, "I'm sorry to trouble you, Mr. Liu, to come over here."

Liu Liu smiled and said, "I'd heard that President Shen was very young, but I didn't expect him to be even younger than I imagined."

"Mr. Liu, you're too kind. Let me introduce these four gentlemen to you..."

Shen Feiyang introduced Yu Kai, Guo Gang, Yu Qian, and Shi Fukuan in turn.

Yu Kai and Liu Liu shook hands briefly.

Guo Gang showed great respect, even bowing almost ninety degrees to shake hands with Liu Liu and greet him.

When Yu Qian met Liu Liu, his senior martial uncle who was only six years older than him, he could only obediently bow and greet him.

When it was Shi Fukuan's turn, Liu Liu politely shook his hand: "Teacher Shi."

Shen Feiyang, who was standing to the side, spoke up at the opportune moment: "Gentlemen, shall we go in?"

"please……"

Liu Liu first invited Shi Fukuan inside.

……

The group entered the venue.

Shen Feiyang, Yu Kai, Shi Fukuan, and Liu Liu sat on the first floor, directly facing the stage.

There were about thirty free audience members randomly invited from the Happy Twist fan club and Happy Twist audience groups, mainly to create an atmosphere.

Guo Gang and Yu Qian went to the back to change into their performance costumes.

During the waiting period.

Shi Fukuan and Liu Liu chatted.

Shi Fukuan said with a hint of melancholy, "The crosstalk industry is getting worse year by year. On the Spring Festival Gala stage, it was defeated by sketches. In the public sphere, only crosstalk actors like us who have been on the Spring Festival Gala still have some influence and can do commercial performances."

Shi Fukuan then added, "Although there are a few good ones in the Ming generation, like Li Jindou and Jiang Kun, they are all over fifty years old now. They no longer have the energy to revitalize the crosstalk industry. You are only in your early forties and still young. If you encounter any capable and talented newcomers, you should try your best to support them."

Liu Liu pondered for a moment and asked, "Is this Guo Gang very capable?"

Shi Fukuan shook his head: "I'm not too sure. I heard from Yu Qian that Guo Gang is quite talented. Whether he is or not, you'll have to see for yourself."

Shi Fukuan added, "I did come here today with the intention of making a deal. You should have heard about the program that President Shen and Zhao Benshan did. My apprentice Yu Qian is going to be on that program, but his partner's lineage is currently unclear, and he is worried that he will be criticized by the mainstream. I heard that President Shen invited you, so I came here specifically to see."

Liu Liu nodded slightly: "I've heard about Guo Gang's situation from President Shen. This kind of sectarianism has really harmed the crosstalk industry. I agreed to come here because I wanted to discover the next generation and let crosstalk be revitalized."

"That's right. To save crosstalk, we need to discover more new talents on the one hand, and more people like President Shen on the other hand, to provide a stage for crosstalk performers." Shi Fukuan steered the conversation toward Shen Feiyang.

Meeting the gazes of Shi Fukuan and Liu Liu, Shen Feiyang continued, "Gentlemen, I certainly have my own selfish considerations in making this program, but I do indeed have the idea of ​​protecting traditional Chinese folk arts."

"Mr. Shen, you're very kind."

Shi Fukuan and Liu Liu offered a compliment.

At this moment, the chubby little black guy and the instant noodle head also made their appearance.

Guo Gang and Yu Qian prepared five programs.

"The Dream of the Western Expedition", "The Wedding Ceremony", "Tying the Doll", "Selling Cloth Scraps", "Eight-Panel Screen".

He announces the program himself and performs it himself.

Guo Gang's first program featured his own adaptation of "The Dream of the Western Expedition," showcasing his creative abilities.

The audience laughed frequently; many of them had seen crosstalk before, but they never expected it to be so funny.

Liu Liu crossed his arms and occasionally squinted and smiled; he had small eyes.

After listening to the first program.

Liu Liu's expression became serious and solemn.

Guo Gang's performance style is already mature, his basic skills are quite solid, and he also has remarkable creative and adaptation abilities.

In the next four performances, Guo Gang's performance was quite flamboyant, but Yu Qian handled it all smoothly, and the audience laughed wave after wave.

I've finished watching the last program.

Liu Liu nodded emphatically.

He absolutely had to take this apprentice as his disciple.

As for whether it will offend those people.

He wasn't afraid when his master took him in, so he had no reason to be afraid.

"Thank you all for coming to see my performance with Teacher Yu Qian," Guo Gang said as he took his bow to the audience.

After the audience left.

Liu Liu looked at Guo Gang and asked directly, "I'd like to take you as my apprentice, but I'm only ten years older than you. Are you willing?"

"Mr. Liu."

Guo Gang bowed deeply.

……

The performance ended just in time for lunch.

Shen Feiyang had already booked a private room at the Beijing Hotel in advance.

The group then moved to a private room at the Beijing Hotel.

They ate, drank, and discussed business.

When asked about Shen Feiyang's intention to sign Guo Weigang and acquire his entire team, Liu Liu said, "I'm not taking on Guo Weigang to make money. The rule of learning for three years and serving for one year doesn't apply to me. Guo Weigang already has very good performance abilities, and having a mentor-student relationship with him is enough."

Liu Liu then added, "As for how you, Mr. Shen, plan to promote Guo Gang and thus revitalize crosstalk, that's your own business. You can discuss it yourselves. If there are any issues with Guo Gang's character, Mr. Shen, you can tell me directly."

"Of course, if Guo Gang suffers any injustice, I, as his mentor, will step in to resolve it."

As soon as Liu Liu said this...

Wow~

Guo burst into tears on the spot.

Yu Qian pulled out a tissue and handed it to him.

"Our industry is declining day by day. If you eat one more bite, he eats one less bite. It's normal to suffer when you're young; it's also a way to temper your character."

After casually comforting Guo Gang, Liu Liu got down to the specifics of the apprenticeship: "I'll have someone calculate an auspicious date, and we'll settle this matter in Harbin next month."

Liu Liu's official title is the head of the Heilongjiang Quyi Troupe, and Harbin is his home turf.

Liu Liu asked Shi Fukuan, who was sitting next to him, "Teacher Shi, would it be convenient for you to act as an introducer for Guo Yigang?"

Simply put, an introducer is someone who introduces an apprentice to their master.

Shi Fukuan nodded slightly: "It should be me who takes the position."

Liu Liu nodded: "Okay, I will do my best to invite Teacher Zhao Benshan to be the guarantor, and I will ask another colleague of the Wen generation to step forward as the substitute teacher."

A guarantor is equivalent to a guarantor and a witness.

His role is to ensure that both the master and the apprentice fulfill their responsibilities, with the master teaching diligently and the apprentice learning well.

If a dispute arises in the master-disciple relationship in the future, the guarantor will be required to testify.

Traditionally, guarantors were often respected and influential people outside the industry.

If Zhao Benshan can act as guarantor, Guo Gang will have found a current peak in the Chinese folk art world to rely on.

Guo Gang immediately stood up, pointed to the sky, and swore a solemn oath: "I, Guo Gang, swear today that if I ever betray my sect, deceive my master, or commit any act of treason, may Heaven and Earth not forgive me!"

Liu Liu nodded.

Shen Feiyang watched everything unfolding before him with great interest.

Guo Gang turned to look at Shen Feiyang again and swore once more, "President Shen is also a benefactor in my life. I, Guo Gang, swear to heaven today that from now on, I will do my best to handle anything that President Shen asks me to do. I will keep our agreement in mind and do what I say."

"Thank you so much, Teacher Guo," Shen Feiyang said with a smile.

Guo Gang then sat back down, took the tissue Yu Qian handed him, and wiped his eyes.