I'm not a drama freak, I can really see through the script

Chapter 231, The Little Thing of Living
Silent expressions through the eyes...
The eyes that speak volumes convey the emotion of 'sadness'.

This look.

So cool.

This ability to express emotions left Zhu Zhengwen slightly shocked and amazed.

Such precise and ruthless control and expression—too much would be excessive, too little would be weak.

Just right, this expression of emotion is perfectly placed.

This is an expression of emotion that borders on cruelty.

After one shot, the sorrow on Fugui's body could only fade away.

Because my mother is still alive, my wife Jia Zhen is still alive, and my daughter Feng Xia is still alive. I still need to learn farming techniques, and I still need to rely on these few acres of meager land to support my family, right?

Jiazhen is still alive, Mother is still alive.

After returning home.

"That's what Mother said."

As long as the family is together every day, poverty is not a problem!
My mother went to the fields with me and worked the land together.

You have to stay alive.

"I almost thought I was really dead."

At this moment, Li Ding, a veteran actor from the Central Academy of Drama, felt somewhat incredulous: "His expression was as if I was really about to die."

Even the veteran actor who finished filming was a bit surprised. This young guy from the Beijing Film Academy seems to have some real talent. His ability to convey emotions through his eyes is amazing. You can feel his emotions being transmitted from a distance. That sadness, so subtle yet so restrained, is really unexpected.

Something.

At this moment, Geng Shengkai, also known as Chunsheng, had a strange look in his eyes, but he couldn't refute it.

This ability to convey meaning through eye contact.

It's not something everyone can do.

As we all know, eyes are an integral part of acting, a fundamental element, but how much acting can be conveyed through the eyes depends on both talent and the hard work and dedication put into it.

There's something more to the expression in Li Xuan's eyes.

This output capability is quite impressive.

She's absolutely no worse than the other actors of her generation! In fact, her expressive eyes are even more impressive!

"It feels a bit like a low-budget Tony Leung," Zhu Zhengwen said, squinting his eyes.

The reason it's called a low-budget version is simply because while the expressiveness in their eyes is somewhat similar, Tony Leung from Hong Kong is still more impressive.

However, this is not bad either.

That's a pretty good damage-dealing talent!

This Fugui doesn't seem to be as bad as I initially imagined.
That sadness, that slight sting, conveyed the emotion perfectly.

However, Master Xu's death was only the beginning.

"Oh, he actually does understand the character a little."

When Yu Hua saw this, his eyes lit up. He was basically a permanent resident of the film crew. Mo Yan would come by occasionally and sometimes go off to find drinks elsewhere. Shi Tiesheng, who was unable to move around easily, could only watch the filming with Yu Hua.

When I saw the 'sadness' that flashed across Li Xuan's face for only a moment, it could even be said that he was very restrained.

Yu Hua didn't know if it was a coincidence.

If it's not a coincidence, then he really does have some understanding of the novel "To Live".

Shi Tiesheng, who was standing next to him, was slightly surprised by the evaluation Yu Hua gave. It turned out that the old man was actually praising someone.

"I thought you would always wear that annoyingly optimistic smile and make jokes, and find joy in watching your readers and your actors and creators cry."

Actually, I'm not such a terrible person.

Yu Hua even seemed a little shy – I'm not that bad.

At least when he was looking at Li Xuan.

I think it's his acting.
It's very 'natural'.

When I watched "To Live" on the set of Zhang Yimou's film, I only had one feeling—that was strength. The tension was really strong. Director Zhang Yimou's camerawork and camera angles were top-notch. He achieved a perfect balance between art and vulgarity.

Actor Ge You's acting skills are equally powerful and impressive. No wonder he has made a name for himself at the Cannes Film Festival; his talent is truly undeniable.

The sheer intensity of the tension was so overwhelming that it felt like a stage play even when you were there in person.

The reason why "To Live" is currently airing may be due to the medium of television drama.

Perhaps because of the actors' acting skills, they don't seem to have much of an extremely strong 'explosive power'.

But it seems to look more 'natural'.

Especially the actor Li Xuan, his portrayal of 'Fugui' is very 'natural'.

It was as if he truly considered himself 'Fugui'.

"There's something off about this guy."

At this moment, Liu Mintao looked at Li Xuan and felt that something was not quite right.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhou Zhengwen also said, "It does feel a bit off."

The reason why I said something was not right was because of Li Xuan.

This Fu Gui looks very strange.

It's been a while since filming started. The first phase of Fugui's story has been completed. He went from being a foolish young master of a landlord's family to a tenant farmer. At the same time, he also lost his most beloved protector and his most beloved father.

At this point, the filming process is going quite smoothly—surprisingly smoothly.

Even now, director Zhu Zhengwen and actress Chen Jiazhen didn't expect things to go so smoothly.

It wasn't until after this stage of filming was completed that I realized how smooth the filming process was; I didn't even feel it while filming.

It is extremely silky and smooth.

"I always felt that when we were filming, he gave me a very... well, how should I put it?" Liu Mintao paused and said, "It's like I'm about to forget what his name is."

"His name... what was his name again?"
Then again.

At this moment, director Zhu Zhengwen was looking at 'Fugui'.

He called out tentatively.

"Li Xuan?"

no respond.

"Fugui!"

at this time.

Fu Gui turned around and looked over, then chuckled.

It was still that same Fugui, his signature optimistic smile, the kind of smile that even hardship couldn't defeat.

At this moment, Liu Mintao's lips twitched, and she finally understood where that strange feeling came from—he was an immersive actor.

The person standing before me was not Li Xuan, but 'Fugui'.

Xu Fugui, the simple-minded son of a landlord in Xujiachuan, is now a tenant farmer.

The warm smile on his face carried a hint of sadness, but this sadness was quickly washed away by his optimism. After all, he had to live, to farm, and to support his mother, wife, and daughters.

What's most shocking now is that we've learned the actor who plays Fugui is actually an immersive performer.

An immersive theater group is going to act in "To Live"? Is this for real?

Is he really not afraid of developing a mental illness?
or.

Something I realized too late—

What kind of person isn't afraid of developing mental illness due to role pressure?

That means someone who is already sick.

He wasn't afraid.

at this time.

Li Xuan was also immersed in the feeling of being 'Fugui'.

Born in that era, the spoiled young master was enveloped in an emotion called 'happiness' from a young age, and no matter what he grew up to be, he could always feel 'happiness'.

Even this kind of 'happiness' was somewhat inexplicable to the crew members. They didn't know when it would start to 'miserably'. Some even had a bit of a perverse sense of humor, wanting to see the actor being forced to see a doctor by Fugui's life.

Geng Shengkai is one of them.

When she learned that Li Xuan was an immersive actor, she almost immediately felt that the doctor was going to arrange a treatment plan for her.

Something that is almost certain and certain.

Immersive actors trying to immerse themselves in "To Live"? They're asking for trouble!
"Forget it, the crew should pay more attention to his mental state, so as not to delay filming." Geng Shengkai still found the director and told him about Li Xuan being an immersive actor. Such people are easily influenced, but on the contrary, when they are immersed in the script, they can understand the script more deeply and empathize with it. Although Geng Shengkai was jealous of Li Xuan, he would not say that he wanted him dead or anything.

Depression has such a profound impact that actors are prone to jumping off buildings.

Too immersed in the play.

My brother's tragic death was caused by his deep immersion in the role of "Farewell My Concubine" and his naturally melancholic nature.

Immersive types are mostly delicate and sentimental—although at first, I didn't really see such personality traits in Li Xuan, who seemed quite cheerful.

It has absolutely nothing to do with the immersive style.
After examining Li Xuan, the doctor did not offer any conclusions.

He was very energetic.

He was in excellent spirits and showed no signs of depression.

Whether it's Fugui or not.

It was still Li Xuan.

Fu Gui's family fell on hard times, and the rice shop owner used the dowry given by the Xu family to carry Jia Zhen home in a grand sedan chair—he was heartbroken for his daughter! It was already heartbreaking enough that she married Xu Fu Gui, but now Fu Gui's family had also fallen on hard times.

Fu Gui did not try to stop him, nor did he say anything.

He even said it with a smile.

May you rest in peace.

However, when Jia Zhen left, the loneliness on her face was still hard to hide. It was a mixture of happiness and sadness.

The good thing is that Jia Zhen should no longer have to suffer with me.

What's painful is that I personally sent off the girl I loved.
But in the end, Jia Zhen came back, bringing You Qing, Fu Gui's second child.

Jiazhen couldn't bear to part with that silly boy after all.

The moment I saw Jiazhen bring Youqing back.

Fu Gui smiled.

He smiled innocently and naively.

A warm, sunny smile, like sunshine on a wheat field.

Later, internal fighting broke out.

When Guo Minjun arrived at Xujiachuan, Manager Chen was forced to provide food for Guo Minjun, and even Fugui was unfortunately conscripted.

A person who goes with the flow has no choice but to be forced to go to the battlefield. However, Fugui once remembered his family's teachings: just live, just live.

He didn't fire a single shot; he just hid and pretended to be dead.

Later, the Guo army was defeated, the People's Liberation Army came, and the world was at peace. They were like prisoners of war, given two paths to choose from.

One path is to choose liberation.

One option is to give money to go home.

All the prisoners of war at the time, including Chunsheng, chose to join the liberation army, except for Fugui, who chose to take the money and go back to his hometown.

Two years.

Upon returning to Xujiachuan, he was greeted by his beloved family. However, his mother, who had once said, "It's enough that our family is alive," had long since passed away due to illness, and his daughter, Fengxia, had become deaf and mute due to a high fever.

Only Jiazhen, holding Youqing, stood before them.

Looking at her husband, whom she had been longing for, she hugged him tightly. The expression on her face when she saw her husband return safely was just like that of a wife, holding him securely and tightly.

Just live
Just being alive is enough; don't worry about anything else for now.

But when Fugui saw his mother's grave, his eyes were filled with a piercing pain, helplessness, and a touch of bewilderment—a feeling of a lonely soul with nowhere to go, a profound sense of desolation.
Then, they left. They went home.

Parents are gone, but Jia Zhen is still here, Feng Xia is still here, and You Qing is still here.

You have to live, after all.

The first instance, with the death of Master Xu, revealed a remarkable level of emotional control, confirming that it truly stemmed from a deep understanding of the character.
Understanding the role as an immersive actor!

Almost every shot, every single moment, is a 'natural' response.

The person named 'Fugui' reacted instinctively out of a sense of role.

Everything felt so natural.

Yes, we all have to 'live'.

At this moment, Zhu Zhengwen truly realized that this guy was no ordinary person!

In fact, "To Live" has a template in it. Ge You won the Cannes Film Festival Best Actor title with this role. Most Chinese actors can only dream of winning the Cannes Film Festival Best Actor title, let alone the domestic film and television Best Actor titles.

Ge You, on the other hand, reached the pinnacle of acting achievement with this role, receiving a lifetime achievement award in art.

It's the pinnacle of 'world-class' acting skills. Reaching this level through acting alone is truly impressive.

He had a template there. In fact, Zhu Zhengwen thought that if Li Xuan were smarter, he could have done a good job imitating Ge You, capturing that grassroots and tragic feeling. But Li Xuan overestimated himself and wrote a character sketch, which felt a bit like he was being too clever for his own good.

I was a bit shocked when I found out he was an immersionist.

The 'flavor' it conveys is completely different from Ge You's.

Really different.

Ge You's acting style, like his grandson's, has a bittersweet quality from head to toe.

very bitter.

Li Xuan's 'Fugui' doesn't taste bitter; instead, it has the feel and flavor of a sunflower.

Without shadow, always facing the sun, struggling to raise its head.

Zhu Zhengwen seemed to have a vague idea.

What exactly is the underlying tone of Li Xuan's "Fugui"?
He took a different path from Ge You.

Is this right? Or wrong?
Alive.

After the internal fighting ended, the whole country ushered in liberation.

Long Er, who plotted to seize Fu Gui's real estate, was shot dead on the spot. When he was shot, Long Er saw Fu Gui.
He spoke loudly.

I would die for you!
Then he died.

Fugui, on the other hand, was classified as a poor peasant because of his good family background, and his life should have been getting better.

Later, a great famine came, and the "Manager Chen" who had been reformed was no longer the owner of the rice shop; he was now a reformed person.

After losing everything, he became someone who valued his family, a far cry from the mean and proud Manager Chen. He died in the snowstorm, clutching an empty bag of relief grain.

He gave the last of his family's remaining grain to Youqing.

Hunger did not defeat Fugui's family, but Fengxia developed a fever due to hunger, and Jiazhen, who had lost her voice, also developed rickets due to hunger, making her unable to work and paralyzed.

However, we managed to pull through eventually.

In short, he survived.

Spring has finally arrived.

And one day in spring.

Yuqing died.

To donate blood and save lives, he gritted his teeth and persevered. The young hero persisted in this way, donating blood without uttering a sound and dying.

This was also the time when Fugui experienced the greatest emotional fluctuation.

He was shouting in a state of emotional breakdown at the hospital entrance.

Yoo Kyung!
Yoo Kyung!
This was the closest Fugui ever came to a breakdown.

The audience was in a state of collapse, and no one could keep up with his performance... Only the actor playing the doctor managed to step forward and speak in a hoarse voice.

He is a little hero.

When filming reached this point, no one could doubt whether Li Xuan was capable of playing the role of 'Fugui'.

They were even somewhat shocked.

What's astonishing is his unparalleled ability to draw people into the story and immerse them completely.

He can do more than just immerse himself in it.

Even the actors were led by his style and rhythm.

This is the most impressive part. Usually, it's the veteran actors who lead the new actors, but now it's the new actors who are carrying the style of the veteran actors.

This is absolutely incredible.

They each originally had their own style and school of thought.

Each had their own acting style and temperament, until Li Xuan appeared, at which point these elements were unified.

The acting style of expression has also been unified.

In the film version of "To Live".

His tone was gloomy, exuding a bitterness from head to toe, devoid of any sunny hue.

Loess plateau, wasteland, scorching sun, gloomy rain—these elements permeate Fugui's life.

The color scheme used by Zhang Mouzi.

Every single one of them embodies his suffering.

Bitter, bitter, bitter.

It’s really bitter.

From beginning to end, it was a plate of bitter Chinese medicine; it was so spicy and bitter that it brought tears to my eyes.

originally.

The tone was the same, and Zhu Zhengwen, as the director, led the crew in the same way. In her eyes, this was what "To Live" was like: a story that exuded bitterness from head to toe, just like "Rickshaw Boy" and "Sanmao the Vagabond," all of which reflected the times and had no sweetness at all.

But at this moment, Li Xuan...

The aura he exudes is different.

That sunny disposition was direct and impactful, influencing everyone present and the entire film crew.

It affected the shooting style.

Suddenly.

Zhu Zhengwen discovered that the crew was out of his control. When filming was halfway through, he realized that the pace was completely led by Li Xuan, the lead actor, who was in charge of the overall rhythm.

What a monster this is.

What kind of freak is this?

Or rather, I, the director, was unknowingly influenced by him, by this real Fugui, which affected the entire specific direction of the story.

The overall tone of "To Live" is surprisingly uplifting.

Just as I was questioning whether this filming and acting style was correct—he had already set the pace for the entire crew!

at this time.

The smile on Yu Hua's face faded.

Shi Tiesheng, who was standing nearby, watched.

Looking at Yu Hua, who couldn't manage a smile.

Could it be because he's dissatisfied with the production team?
No, Shi Tiesheng knew that wasn't the case.

Even the Fugui we see today is vastly different from the character portrayed in the movie.

Is there something you want to say?

In response to Shi Tiesheng's question, Yu Hua replied leisurely.

"There are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people's eyes."

Chun Sheng died; his scenes were finished. He hanged himself at home.

Before committing suicide, he went to apologize to Mr. and Mrs. Fu Gui.

Chen Jiazhen said coldly.

What's the point of your apology?

What good is it to atone with your death?

Just live a good life.

However, filled with guilt, Chunsheng still committed suicide by hanging himself because of Youqing's matter. Chunsheng always felt guilty about this.

The only good thing this year.

That probably means Fengxia got married. She married a porter named Erxi.

This silent man.

He is very taciturn.

He spent money to repair Fugui's dilapidated thatched house and specially bought wine and pig's head meat to see Fugui, hoping to marry Fengxia.

The middle-aged man, whose face was already covered with wrinkles, casually remarked that he hoped the wedding wouldn't be too shabby.

The taciturn Erchun did more and spoke less. He borrowed money to visit an old friend, accompanied by dozens of people, with gongs and drums. He paid a huge dowry and married Fengxia in a grand and glorious manner, taking her to the city.

During this year, Fugui occasionally went to the city to visit his daughter Fengxia, who was doing well there. Erchun worked as a porter and earned money to pay off her debts.

Fu Gui, who was already old at this time, looked at Jia Zhen, whose temples were white, on the bed.

Our daughter.

They are doing very well in the city.

The makeup gave them the marks of time, making them look nothing like two young actors; it was as if they were meant to be that age.

Playing an elderly person is not difficult with today's makeup techniques, but the most difficult part is capturing that aged demeanor and the peace and kindness that comes with age.

By the time Fugui arrived here, he was old.

Jiazhen is getting old.

Paralyzed in bed, Jia Zhen carefully opened her mouth to eat the soup that Fu Gui fed her.

Listening to Fugui talk about everyday matters.

The people and things I met in the city, and the things that happened to Fengxia and Erchun—our son-in-law is really good. Although he doesn't talk much, he's a really good man. Now that Fengxia is pregnant, this taciturn man is really treasuring our Fengxia.

Our son-in-law is much better than I was back then!

You're not bad either.

Chen Jiazhen looked sweetly at Fugui, this prodigal son who had turned over a new leaf.

It contrasted sharply with the sounds outside the door.

The background noises outside the door were all about revolution, progress, and the times; only Fugui and his wife were discussing the most mundane family matters.

Compared to the excited crowd outside, Fugui and his paralyzed Jiazhen in this dilapidated thatched hut seemed to understand the true meaning of happiness and peace even better.

It was very peaceful.

It was a peaceful scene, and the camera focused on the two smiling old faces. Jia Zhen, who was paralyzed in bed, listened to her husband talk about Feng Xia and their daughter.

That was a really good performance.

The actor is really old.

Until the next shot.

Then someone came and told them.

Fengxia died in childbirth, dying in her sickbed.

(End of this chapter)