Entertainment Era: Starting with Teaching Sister Meng to Sing

The film is divided into three parts: one part follows Meng Ziyi and Mao Xiaotong to experience the perspective of the rich; another part follows Huang Mao and his friends to experience the perspective of ordinary people; and the last part follows Wang Xiaozhou to experience the perspective of an ordinary person in dire straits.

The small hotel that Wenye found was near the train station, not far from the urban village, or rather, it was another urban village.

The hotel owner was a woman in her forties who seemed to be living a happy life without many worries. After all, they say that a carefree mind leads to a plump body, and the owner was very, very plump.

"Young man, you're dressed so smartly, how come you're staying in a dormitory here? Here, it's an eight-person room upstairs, fifteen yuan per person. If you get hungry tomorrow and don't have money for food, there's a cheap breakfast shop across the street."

When they checked into the room, the landlady saw that Wang Xiaozhou looked like he had plenty of money and instinctively assumed that he had met with misfortune. She not only gave him a special room for eight people, but also told him where to have breakfast the next day.

Wang Xiaozhou naturally didn't say much. After taking the key to the small cabinet from the proprietress and thanking her, he went upstairs.

Another round of comments erupted in the live stream:

"It seems like everyone Wang Xiaozhou meets when he goes out is really nice. This boss lady looks fierce, but she speaks very gently."

"The director has some skill. The three live streams correspond to high, medium, and low economic situations, respectively. Meng Ziyi and Mao Xiaotong seem to be receiving very good service, but everyone's reaction is only because of their spending."

The bosses that Huang Mao and his friends encountered were all rather calculating, which shows that in this society, one does indeed have to be somewhat calculating in order to live an ordinary life.

Wang Xiaozhou's situation represents the plight of most people at the bottom of society. While some do climb the social ladder by stepping on others, there's a greater tendency to stick together and support each other; warmth is hidden in a casual remark.

"I admire the treatment Meng Ziyi received, and I am familiar with Huang Mao's experience. Only Wang Xiaozhou's experience showed me the last remaining simplicity among the older generation."

......

The second floor of the small hotel was dilapidated, but surprisingly it wasn't dirty.

To achieve this effect in this environment, the proprietress should have tidied up the beds after each guest left. She is truly a person who loves life, or rather, she loves her hotel very much.

There were quite a few people in the eight-person room, with six already staying. The small cabinets that the landlady had prepared for guests to put their valuables were not being used, so everyone just casually put their snakeskin bags by the bed without worrying about anyone stealing them.

Everyone was quite old, generally around fifty years old, and there was even an elderly man with half-gray hair. They all seemed to be migrant workers from nearby villages and towns who came to Chang'an.

Upon seeing Wang Xiaozhou enter the house, the oldest person smiled and said:

"What are you doing here, young man? Are you on a budget trip? My grandson is just like you, traveling around during his holidays, always looking for cheap places to stay. Hurry up and put your things down."

As he spoke, the old man came over to help carry his bag. Wang Xiaozhou politely offered him a cigarette, and after the old man accepted it, he offered cigarettes to the other people in the room.

"It's kind of like a vacation. I came to Chang'an for a visit, but the money my family gave me wasn't enough, so I had to be frugal."

As he spoke, Wang Xiaozhou scratched his head sheepishly.

One of the more robust tenants, who seemed rather simple and honest, exhaled a puff of smoke and said, "If you don't have enough money, don't go out and have fun. Wait until you get into a good university and earn your own money. You can't just go wherever you want. What kind of fun can you possibly have now?"

This person didn't have bad intentions; he was genuinely trying to give good advice. In his simple worldview, he believed that children who went on budget trips before finishing their studies were wasting their parents' money.

Wang Xiaozhou didn't refute, but just chuckled and said, "I just finished the college entrance exam, and I was thinking of taking advantage of this summer vacation to have some fun, because I'm afraid I won't have the chance later."

"You're still young, you'll have plenty of opportunities."

The burly tenant was sharp-tongued, but Wang Xiaozhou didn't argue back. He just smiled and went back to his bed to lie down.

I drank quite a bit with the shop owner just now, and I'm a little sleepy, so I'm too lazy to argue with him.

Besides, Wang Xiaozhou didn't want to argue with this guy. Otherwise, a simple "You were young once too, you have plenty of time, tell me where you've been" would have been enough to shut him down.

But it's pointless for two people with different worldviews to talk. The older brother only has family and responsibility in his eyes. You can't say he's wrong; it's just that it's not wrong for a young person to want to experience the world.

Both being children from rural families, Wang Xiaozhou didn't really have high requirements for his living environment; he even felt that the snoring around him was a form of breathing.

The smell of my feet was a bit unbearable, so I just covered my nose and slept soundly until dawn, then I was full of energy for the next day.

Under Wenye's arrangement, the group gathered at the hotel where Meng Ziyi was staying, and the live broadcast started again. Someone asked whether they should continue their journey today or stay in Chang'an for another two days.

Wang Xiaozhou immediately said that of course they couldn't leave. Yesterday in Chang'an was just the beginning. According to the principle of filming one episode every three days, this is just the beginning. The small shock of this episode has just set the stage.

"Today, let's immerse ourselves in the local life. Let's ask that uncle from yesterday to come and show us around. Eat, drink, and relax. Making a show is secondary; having fun is the most important thing."

Then everyone remembered that yesterday there was a kind uncle with whom they had exchanged phone numbers.

Wang Xiaozhou was in charge of making the contact. When the call was connected, the shop owner's voice was very enthusiastic. Upon hearing Wang Xiaozhou's invitation, he immediately said that the shop was going to be closed for the day and rushed over after hanging up the phone.

We hadn't even finished our breakfast when the people arrived.

The older man greeted Wang Xiaozhou with a big smile and opened his arms for a hug.

"Celebrities, my daughter told me yesterday that you guys were doing a live stream from the store."

I even told you how hard life is, and you don't find me annoying, haha.

At this moment, the shop owner had no idea that this was one of his few days of leisure. Soon, Wang Xiaozhou's fans would show him what a terrifying fan economy was!

"We've known each other for so long, chatted several times and even had drinks together, but I still don't know what to call you, Uncle."

Wang Xiaozhou casually dismissed his celebrity status and changed the subject with a smile.

The middle-aged man chuckled, "I'm quite a bit older than you all. If you don't mind, just call me Uncle Zhang. Are you here today to discuss where to go for fun, or are you filming a TV show?"

Wang Xiaozhou nodded and said, "That's right, Uncle Zhang. But our program is on the more mundane side, so we won't go to see the Terracotta Warriors. You can just show us some local life."

Uncle Zhang turned around and looked for the camera. Seeing that he was in the center, he spoke proudly:

"If you're talking about local life, you've come to the right person. We grew up in Chang'an, which means we were raised right under the nose of the imperial city in ancient times, so we definitely have that kind of temperament."

To tell you about Chang'an, let me first give you a complete overview of the city. First, there's the Qinling Mountains, the central water tower; then, the eight rivers that encircle Chang'an; and then there's the First Emperor's Mausoleum and Tang Dynasty culture. There's so much to say about Chang'an's culture and geography.

Wang Xiaozhou and Wen Ye exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with surprise.

Originally, I just wanted this uncle to take people for a walk around the streets and alleys, but I didn't expect Uncle Zhang to speak so eloquently, it was like a documentary narration.

"First and foremost, this is the first ancient capital recognized and undisputed by Chinese people all over the world, a great city filled with the vicissitudes and glory of China, one of the four ancient capitals of the world, and the starting point of the Silk Road. It is filled with the country's profound history and culture. As a resident of Chang'an, my morning begins with a bowl of meatball hot and sour soup."

As he spoke, Uncle Zhang, with the air of a host, led everyone toward the morning market.

Wang Xiaozhou waved for everyone to follow. Wen Ye, his eyes gleaming, was switching cameras. He was truly a hidden talent. Uncle Zhang had elevated the live stream to a whole new level with just a few words, making it feel like a documentary.

Besides making money, what director wouldn't want to make something meaningful? Documentaries are arguably the ultimate aspiration for these people, and who wouldn't be tempted by such an opportunity?

The morning market wasn't far from the hotel, less than a 20-minute drive. When we arrived at Uncle Zhang's usual breakfast shop, he even insisted on paying the bill, saying that everyone had made too much money yesterday and that he would treat everyone to a meal today.

The squabbles and fights were naturally left to Fumino; after all, the money definitely couldn't be spent by the older man.

Bowls of spicy soup were served, each with a steamed bun on the plate. Even though everyone had already eaten breakfast, the combination still whetted their appetites.

Having experienced the breakfast of the old Chang'an residents, Uncle Zhang plans to take them to the park to play chess next.

But this park is no ordinary park. Locals call it the Temple of Heaven Park. The ancient capital of thirteen dynasties is all about luxury. Locals might even stumble upon several historical sites while going to the toilet.

After strolling around the park for a while, Uncle Zhang took them to a very, very far place; they went hiking outside the city!

Two hours later, everyone personally experienced how awe-inspiring the Qinling Mountains were, and also learned what the ancient emperors felt when they looked down at the Central Plains from the mountaintop. The phrase "contending for the Central Plains" had become a tangible reality at this moment!

It was already dinnertime when they returned from the Qinling Mountains. Uncle Zhang took them directly to a local restaurant for dinner. After dinner, they took a stroll, watched a performance at the Tang Dynasty Never Sleeping City, and then went to the night market. It was a very enjoyable day.

That evening, there was no further hotel classification process, and everyone stayed in a regular hotel.

Wang Xiaozhou didn't sleep all night, preparing for tomorrow's final performance.

The viewers in the live stream didn't know if they would have to go to work the next day, but they stayed up with him anyway, watching Wang Xiaozhou write while they chatted about their own things.

"Is this what artists look like when they're creating? So cool."

"Hehe, it's not that the artist is creating something handsome, it's that Wang Xiaozhou is handsome to begin with. If you put a pot-bellied middle-aged man in his forties or fifties in front of the computer, would you still say he's handsome?"

"The uncle today was really interesting, and also really impressive. Are all the locals in Chang'an so full of historical spirit? What must a real gentleman from the capital be like?"

"This variety show is interesting. It looks very natural and there shouldn't be any script. It's a slow-paced travel variety show, and I like it a lot."

"Chang'an has such a long history and culture, it's really amazing. Especially when Uncle Zhang took them to look down from the Qinling Mountains, I even wanted to lead my troops down there."

"My fascinating ancestors really made Chang'an so amazing. I must visit Chang'an sometime and experience its charm."

"Don't wait for another chance, let's set off now! I'm starting from Central China, and my first stop is Uncle Zhang's restaurant. Anyone want to join me? Sign up quickly!"

"Me too, I'm setting off too. I'll probably arrive the day after tomorrow. My first stop is also Uncle Zhang's restaurant. Anyone else want to join me?"

"This adorable uncle has no idea these are his last days of leisure. Pick up the spatula, or your customers will be lining up down the street!"

"I heard from Xiao Zhou that tomorrow will be our last day in Chang'an. I wonder where our next stop will be."

"I love watching whatever I go. Who can understand the feeling of gaining knowledge unexpectedly while watching a variety show?"

......

The response to the show was generally positive. When Wang Xiaozhou got tired of writing, he would occasionally glance at the comments and chat with them when he felt like it. In any case, the night would pass quickly.

The next day, the daytime live stream was interrupted, and there were no more fun and games. Everyone was confined to the hotel by Wang Xiaozhou and had to practice all day.

Fortunately, everyone present had experienced the power of Wang Xiaozhou's tyrannical nature on set, so they were all very resilient. After being cooped up in the hotel for a day, they actually managed to achieve the effect that Wang Xiaozhou wanted.

So at 7:30 p.m. that evening, when netizens clicked into the live stream, they saw the Chang'an city wall.

Wang Xiaozhou focused his energy, displaying masterful delivery of lines that far surpassed the exaggerated broadcasting style of the older man from yesterday.

"The ancient capital of thirteen dynasties, the starting point of the Silk Road, mutton stew, hot and sour cold noodles. After two days in Chang'an, everything here gives me a sense of grandeur, including the people here."

But after two days here, I felt that this place was not only grand and unrealistic, but also had a touch of romantic human warmth.

This includes the uncle who wanted to give us a free meal, the proprietress who told me where to find cheap breakfasts, and the uncle who advised me against traveling on a budget.

So on the last day of my journey south to Chang'an, I humbly offer this song, "The Song of Chang'an," to the vibrant people here, using my limited vocabulary.

There's a song playing right from the start, isn't that a pleasant surprise?

The live stream chat was flooded with comments. After two days of buzz, the number of viewers watching the live stream of the variety show "All the Way South" has been increasing. Everyone felt that Wang Xiaozhou's approach of starting without any preamble and immediately launching into a song was very sincere.

At this moment, in the camera's view, Wang Xiaozhou and his group had already set up their formation at the foot of the city wall. Wang Xiaozhou himself sat in front of the drum set, and with each drumbeat, a shout in the local dialect of Chang'an followed.

"There's a city that's hard to leave behind!"

It's Uncle Zhang!

As the camera panned across the screen, viewers in the live stream flooded the chat with excited comments. Wang Xiaozhou really put a lot of thought into having Uncle Zhang start the new song in the local dialect!

Immediately following suit, as if in response, Meng Ziyi, Mao Xiaotong, and others joined in singing:

There is a kind of nostalgia called "having been here".

There's a melody that's being sung at the top of its lungs.

At its center, people call it the Drum Tower and Bell Tower.

It was still in the Chang'an dialect, which surprised and delighted the audience.

Wang Xiaozhou then strikes a drumbeat, followed by a solo, guiding the song back to its normal melody.

Some say that the environment and climate of Chang'an make people lazy.

Let me teach you how to make a living by digging holes.

Whose impression of Chang'an remains on the Loess Plateau?

Come sing me a song from our Chang'an people.

The microphone was moved further away, and everyone joined in, instantly making the live stream lively.

"Beneath the city walls of Chang'an lay the trains of Chang'an."

People from Chang'an can't go anywhere without eating paomo (pita bread soaked in mutton soup).

The Chang'an Building is a series of tall buildings connected together.

In the hearts of the people of Chang'an, this is the song of Chang'an.

The cheerful singing attracted the attention of locals who were taking a stroll after dinner. Some of them recognized Wang Xiaozhou and the others and even took out their phones to record the scene.

The chorus stopped abruptly, and Wang Xiaozhou began to speak as if whispering:

"The 600-year-old city walls are now open to your touch."

The snacks in Chang'an are enough to turn you into a foodie.

The geese of Wangsun County were once buried beneath your feet.

The horse bell under the Peace Gate is the most unassuming one.

After a short interlude, the tone-deaf blond guy grabbed the microphone and screamed:

Girls in Chang'an are known for their straightforwardness and outspokenness.

Just like the city gate tower, it has a simple and unrestrained square shape.

I'm telling you, Chang'an is a place of spiritual energy, so I wouldn't dare to speak carelessly.

Speaking ill of someone behind their back can lead to trouble.

Another round of singing ensued. Seeing that more and more people were gathering around him, Wang Xiaozhou simply stood up and invited everyone to join in.

This local Chang'an song is easy to remember, and the surrounding audience really gave us face by chanting it along.

"Beneath the city walls of Chang'an lay the trains of Chang'an."

People from Chang'an can't go anywhere without eating paomo (pita bread soaked in mutton soup).

The Chang'an Building is a series of tall buildings connected together.

In the hearts of the people of Chang'an, this is the song of the people of Chang'an.

】"

With a single glance from Wang Xiaozhou, Wen Ye instantly understood and began filming. A small picture-in-picture was set up above the live stream, showing the experiences of Wang Xiaozhou and the others over the past few days.

The live stream below gradually rises, allowing viewers to see more and more people around them, all singing along, while also giving them a panoramic view of Chang'an.

There are far too many ancient temples that people want to build in Chang'an.

Li Si of Chang'an City is not unpredictable.

We sat by the moat to watch the sunset.

He then tucked a folk-style novel into his arms.

The camera zooms out continuously, like the final part of a TV series' ending theme song, with all the voices joining in, as if saying goodbye.

"Beneath the city walls of Chang'an lay the trains of Chang'an."

People from Chang'an can't go anywhere without eating paomo (pita bread soaked in mutton soup).

The Chang'an Building is a series of tall buildings connected together.

In the hearts of the people of Chang'an, this is the song of the people of Chang'an.

】"

......

The singing grew weaker and weaker until it disappeared completely. The camera then swirled in mid-air, zooming in on Wang Xiaozhou and the others' faces.

"The first stop of 'All the Way South,' Chang'an, has come to a successful conclusion. Goodbye, friends!"

The comments scrolled by, all of them netizens saying goodbye.

Goodbye, goodbye, hurry up and set off. I hope to see you live stream again at this time tomorrow.

"The name Chang'an is so alluring. I'm setting off now, following in your footsteps. Goodbye."

"Don't turn off the live stream even after the Chang'an trip is over, okay? Keep filming Wang Xiaozhou at work like yesterday, we love watching it."

"The Chang'an portrayed in this program gives me a strange sense of chivalry. Is it heroic? Magnanimous? Feudal? I can't quite put my finger on it. I've decided to watch it for myself."

......

Wang Xiaozhou couldn't let the barrage of comments from netizens linger for even a second longer. He immediately ended the live stream and took everyone to a celebration banquet, telling them to get a good rest tonight and prepare to continue their journey tomorrow.

Enjoying delicious food, drinking wine, and staying in the best hotels, Wang Xiaozhou truly treated this trip as a vacation for everyone.

However, Wang Xiaozhou and the others, who were already asleep in the luxury hotel, were unaware that their program was about to cause a surge in tourists to Chang'an.

The power of travel bloggers is beginning to be demonstrated in the world for the first time.