Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 120, Page 119: The capital is vast, but living here is not easy.
Fan Xiaopang's passionate declaration hadn't even finished when reality hit him hard.

"Hey little sister, need a room? Clean, cheap, and with hot water!"

"Hey young lady, looking for work? Restaurant waitress, meals and accommodation included!"

"Looking for a place to rent? We have single rooms and shared rooms available, not far from here. Shall I take you to see one?"

"Want a taxi? Where to?"

"..."

A group of men and women with various accents and shrewd eyes swarmed around him like sharks smelling fish, chattering away and spitting almost onto Fan Xiaopang's face.

They held up simple playing cards with words like "accommodation," "employment," and "renting" written on them, and shoved them into her hands without saying a word.

Where had Fan Xiaopang ever seen anything like this?

At Hengtong School in Shanghai, although I did gain some exposure to the world, the learning environment was relatively simple.

Surrounded by this overly enthusiastic group of strangers, bombarded with all sorts of information, she felt dizzy and overwhelmed. The excitement and courage she had felt upon arriving in the capital were instantly replaced by a huge sense of bewilderment and helplessness.

She instinctively gripped the handle of her enormous suitcase, as if it were her only support.

My heart was pounding, but I forced a calm expression while my mind raced.

She couldn't show weakness; she couldn't let them see that she was a lonely, helpless little girl.

"No need!" Fan Xiaopang raised her voice, mimicking the adult tone she'd seen on TV, trying to sound as experienced as possible: "I'm waiting for someone! My people will be here soon!"

As she spoke, she stood on tiptoe and pretended to look anxiously toward the exit, as if someone was really waiting for her.

The crowd hesitated for a moment, scrutinizing her young yet feigned composure face, and the suitcase that seemed far too heavy for her size.

Some people were skeptical, but still pressed on, "Really not? A discount is fine too, young lady. The capital is different from other places; you won't be able to find a good place to stay if you stay too late!"

"Thanks, but really no need! My uncle is over there, I can see him!" Fan Xiaopang pointed in a random direction, his tone firm, even carrying a hint of impatience.

Seeing her resolute attitude, and not seeming completely naive and easily fooled, the agents who had been surrounding her most reluctantly dispersed and moved on to find their next target.

Fan Xiaopang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, his palms were covered in cold sweat.

She dared not linger, fearing they would realize what was happening and surround her again, so she immediately dragged her heavy suitcase and practically fled into the bustling crowd.

Stepping out of the train station square and standing on the side of Chang'an Avenue, watching the endless stream of vehicles and hurried pedestrians, Fan Xiaopang truly felt the vastness and indifference of this ancient capital.

What she just witnessed taught her a valuable lesson: life in the capital is big, but living here is not easy.

Dreams are wonderful, but the first step in reality is to find a place to settle down and make a living.

Her goal was very clear—Beitaipingzhuang.

That place is where the Beijing Film Studio is located, the heart of what the newspapers called "China's Film Capital," and where her dreams took flight.

Only by getting close to that place can you access the most opportunities.

I asked a passerby for directions, squeezed onto a bus that went northwest, paid the fare, and found a corner to stand in the crowded carriage.

The view outside the train window gradually changed from the bustling and noisy area in front of the station to the slightly old but lively streets and buildings.

She clutched her luggage tightly, staring intently out the window, trying to memorize the landmarks as they passed, feeling both nervous and excited.

After nearly an hour of bumpy travel, upon hearing the announcement "We've arrived at Beitaipingzhuang," Fan Xiaopang quickly got off the bus with his suitcase.

Sure enough, as the report said, there was a distinct atmosphere in this area that was different from that near the train station.

The streets are now filled with young people carrying cameras, discussing scripts, or hurrying by but with an air of "insider" confidence.

The shop signs along the roadside now feature more signs for "film and television equipment," "scriptwriting," and "actor management."

But it was precisely because of the revival of the Beijing Film Studio and the influx of a large population that real estate agencies sprang up like mushrooms after rain, one after another.

The glass windows were covered with dense rental information, and real estate agents in suits stood at the door, their eyes keenly scanning passersby.

Fan Xiaopang touched the thin wad of money sewn into her pocket—this was all her "start-up capital," about two thousand yuan, which she had saved by living frugally over the past year, plus the money her parents gave her when she left home.

From then on, she mainly relied on the 400 yuan monthly allowance sent by her family to make ends meet.

This amount of money might be enough to live comfortably in Qingdao, but in Beijing, especially in the heart of the film and television industry, it seems particularly insufficient.

intermediary?

That hefty agency fee was something she absolutely couldn't afford.

Fan Xiaopang bit his lip and made up his mind: He'll find it himself!
Dragging her suitcase, she avoided the enthusiastic gazes of the agents and plunged into the intricate network of alleyways and courtyards surrounding Beitaipingzhuang.

The residential areas here are mostly old tenement buildings and single-story courtyard houses, full of the atmosphere of everyday life in the city.

She would slip into any courtyard she saw, tilting her head back to look for any handwritten "For Rent" signs pasted on the walls, or simply knock on the doors of first-floor residents, speaking in slightly accented Mandarin, and timidly ask, "Auntie/Uncle, do you have any rooms for rent here?"

Most of the time, all I get is a shake of the head or an impatient wave of the hand.

"No no!"

"It's already rented out!"

"Young lady, go find a real estate agent!"

I walked and asked questions, only to be disappointed along the way.

My feet were sore from the friction, and my arms were sore and weak from dragging the suitcase.

The spring sunshine felt warm on her skin, but she couldn't feel much warmth. Instead, she was covered in a light sweat from running around, and the cold wind made her feel chilly. Her stomach started to rumble, but she couldn't bear to spend money on food, so she had to endure it.

They searched from the afternoon until dusk, when the city lights began to come on.

Just when she was almost in despair and considering whether to find the cheapest hotel to spend the night, in a quiet courtyard deep in the city, she saw a palm-sized red paper pasted on a window of the east wing, with two words written in calligraphy: "For Rent".

Fan Xiaopang was overjoyed and quickly went to knock on the door.

The person who opened the door was an elderly woman in her sixties with gray hair and a kind face. She was wearing an apron and holding a scallion in her hand.

"Hello, Grandma, I saw you have a room for rent here?" Fan Xiaopang asked quickly, his voice a little hoarse from nervousness and fatigue.

The old lady sized her up. Although the girl looked travel-worn, she had a decent appearance and bright eyes, and didn't seem like someone of questionable character. She nodded and said, "Yes, a small south-facing room. It used to be used for storing miscellaneous items, but it was just cleaned up. You live alone?"

“Yes, I’m alone.” Fan Xiaopang nodded quickly.

The old lady stepped aside to let her into the house to take a look.

The house is indeed small, only seven or eight square meters, facing south, with a small window.

The room contained nothing but an old wooden bed, a peeling wooden table, and a chair.

The walls had just been painted and were fairly clean, but the floor was rough cement.

The communal kitchen and toilets are located in the courtyard.

"These are the conditions, but they are clean and quiet."

The old lady said, "It's 300 a month, one month's rent as deposit, and utilities are extra."

three hundred!

Fan Xiaopang's heart skipped a beat.

This is almost three-quarters of her monthly living expenses!

This means that she will only have 100 yuan left each month for food, transportation, and daily necessities... This will be an extremely difficult period.

She hesitated.

Should we look again?
Maybe there are cheaper options?

But looking out the window at the completely dark sky, feeling my body almost falling apart, and thinking about the hardships of the day's search and the houses I encountered that were either outrageously priced or in even worse condition...

She understood that this price was probably the limit in the Beitaipingzhuang area.

At least, it's close enough to the Beijing Film Studio.

The flame of dreams burns tenaciously in my heart.

She recalled the bold words she had spoken to her roommates when she left school, and the miracle created by the young man named Wang Sheng in the newspaper.

What others can endure, I, Fan Xiaopang, can also endure!

"Grandma, I've rented it!"

Fan Xiaopang took a deep breath and said decisively, carefully counting out six hundred yuan from his pocket and handing it over: "This is the deposit and one month's rent."

The old lady took the money, counted it, and smiled, "Alright, young lady, you're a straightforward person. My surname is Wu, you can just call me Grandma Wu. If you need anything in the future, just let me know."

After signing an extremely simple rental agreement and receiving the keys, Fan Xiaopang finally felt half relieved.

She thanked Grandma Wu and dragged her heavy suitcase into her small space.

Closing the door shuts out the outside world.

She leaned against the door and let out a long sigh of relief.

Exhaustion washed over me like a tide, but an unprecedented sense of peace also arose within me.

She began cleaning and tidying up.

I carefully wiped the tables, chairs, and bed boards with the rag I brought, and made up the single bed and bedding I brought from school.

Although simple, after she tidied it up, the small room finally had a bit of a "home" feel.

After finishing the work, I was covered in sweat.

Fan Xiaopang didn't care about anything else and collapsed onto the hard wooden bed.

The bed frame made a soft creaking sound.

She stared at the mottled ceiling, the smell of freshly painted lime mingling with the scent of her own sweat.

My body is tired, my stomach is hungry, and the future is unknown and full of challenges.

The 300 yuan rent felt like a small mountain weighing on my heart.

However, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but slowly curve upwards, eventually blossoming into a big, radiant smile.

Silent, yet full of power.

This is Beijing, this is Beitaipingzhuang, the place where Fan Xiaopang's dream began.

She came, and she stayed.

The next step is to go and take the plunge!
(End of this chapter)