Huayu: Starting with Xiang Yu, the Hegemon of Western Chu

As Chen Mo walked out of the film set, he first heard a sentence from the action director Zhao.

"Don't turn off the light yet, let it stay on for a while."

He didn't see who was speaking, but he recognized the voice as that of the action director, Zhao.

Chen Mo paused for a moment.

He didn't head to the parking lot immediately.

He turned and glanced in the direction of Martial Arts Director Zhao. Martial Arts Director Zhao had already left, leaving only the worker who was collecting the lights standing there dumbfounded.

Chen Mo turned his head again and glanced at the set in the West Warm Pavilion of Qianqing Palace.

The light is still on.

From his position, the light in the window of the set was yellow.

The cool yellow hue of a winter evening.

When that light shone on his face, he thought he would never face that light again in his life.

But it's still there.

Commander Zhao told it to keep the lights on a little longer.

Chen Mo didn't go over to look.

He didn't stand still to look around.

He knew who choreographer Zhao was referring to with those words.

It wasn't meant for Chen Mo.

It's addressed to everyone who has just finished their last performance.

It's addressed to the staff who have been working around this lamp every day for over a year.

It was addressed to Old Zhou, who had been waiting for him outside the dressing room for half an hour.

It was addressed to Old Zhang and Little Zhao, who were squatting on the ground.

Chen Mo doesn't need to stand under that lamp and try to evoke emotions.

This light wasn't meant for Chen Mo either.

Instead, it was shown to Zhu Zhanji.

It was shown to the Ming Dynasty.

Even though filming has ended, the history of the Ming Dynasty seems to have been replayed on this land after this period of time.

As long as the lamp is lit, the great light will never be extinguished.

......

Inside the monitoring shed.

Wang Xueqi and Liang Guanhua haven't left yet.

Two veteran actors stood by the last curtain in the monitoring booth.

Liang Guanhua held a cup of cold tea in his hand, while Wang Xueqi stood still.

Liang Guanhua spoke first.

"Old Wang, how many more times do you think we can work together?"

Wang Xueqi thought about it.

"Check on the body."

"Um."

Neither of them continued speaking.

Liang Guanhua took a sip of the herbal tea without frowning or saying it was cold.

After he finished drinking, he placed the cup on the table in the monitoring shed.

"Old Wang."

"Um."

"How many times did you watch that scene just now?"

"Twice."

"Are you planning to watch it a few more times when you get home?"

Wang Xueqi did not answer immediately.

He paused for a few seconds before speaking.

"I plan to wait until the show airs before watching it."

"Oh?"

"Watching it back then was different from watching it live. When I watched it live, I was watching Chen Mo. But when I watched it after it was broadcast, I was watching Zhu Zhanji as a viewer."

Liang Guanhua nodded.

"Okay, I'll take a look then."

The two elderly people stood there for a while.

Liang Guanhua sighed.

"Old Wang, what do you think that kid will act in next?"

Wang Xueqi shook his head.

"I don't worry about him; he knows what he's doing."

"Um."

Liang Guanhua took out his phone and glanced at the time.

"The wrap party will be ready soon, shall we go?"

"Walk."

Two veteran actors walked out through the door at the back of the monitoring booth.

The wrap party was held at an old restaurant in Hengdian.

This restaurant is called "Old Canteen" and has been open for twenty years. The crew of the TV series "The Legend of Ming Dynasty" had been here many times before.

The restaurant is small, with three floors. The second floor is reserved for private dining, the first floor has tables for individual customers, and the third floor has even larger private rooms.

Today's wrap party was held on the entire second floor, with thirty-six tables.

Luo Yifeng, Wang Xueqi, Liang Guanhua, Chen Mo, and Jing Ming were seated at the main table.

The other actors, crew members, and extras were seated at more than thirty tables.

This was the night when the group was most complete this year.

The dishes were served quickly, and Luo Yifeng raised his glass first.

"As usual, a toast to everyone, thank you for your hard work this year."

The entire audience raised their glasses.

Chen Mo's cup contained tea; he hadn't drunk alcohol once in the past year. Today, he broke his vow and poured himself half a glass of red wine.

He picked up his cup and clinked it with the others at the head table.

Wang Xueqi looked at him: "Little Chen broke his vow today?"

"Half a cup."

"Then slow down."

Liang Guanhua laughed: "Old Wang, why are you meddling in so much?"

Wang Xueqi: "It was his first time drinking it."

Leung Kwan-wah: "He's already finished playing Zhu Zhanji, what else can he do after drinking half a cup of red wine?"

Chen Mo listened to the two old men bickering and felt amused.

He picked up the half-cup of red wine and slowly finished it.

His face didn't change after drinking the red liquor; he's not a bad drinker.

Luo Yifeng raised his glass several more times at the main table, and each time he did, everyone in the room raised their glasses.

After eating more than half of the food, the atmosphere in the private room gradually eased up.

Wang Xueqi put down his chopsticks and glanced at Chen Mo.

"Xiao Chen."

"Um."

"Let's work together again next time."

Just this one sentence.

Chen Mo nodded.

"Okay, next time."

Wang Xueqi didn't say anything more, picked up his chopsticks and continued to eat.

This sentence was left on the dinner table, but no one responded.

But Luo Yifeng heard it, Liang Guanhua heard it, and Jing Ming heard it.

They all knew what it meant when Wang Xueqi said those words.

In the past ten years or so, Wang Xueqi has never once proactively mentioned "we'll work together again next time."

The extras were sitting at the innermost table on the second floor.

Old Zhang, Old Zhou, Little Zhao, and a bunch of other actors who had played eunuchs, palace maids, soldiers, and old ministers.

The people at this table ate slower than those at the main table.

No one at their table spoke; everyone was quietly picking at the food on their own plates.

After a while, Old Zhang spoke.

"Old Zhou, that paper of yours."

Old Zhou paused for a moment, then understood what Old Zhang meant.

Old Zhang had just seen Old Zhou hand Chen Mo a yellowed piece of paper from afar; Old Zhang had witnessed this.

Old Zhou smiled and said, "I gave it to Teacher Chen."

Old Zhang nodded.

"Which line did you tear from that notebook from 1989?"

"Um."

The other people at the table didn't know what the two were talking about, but they didn't ask.

Old Zhang picked up his teacup and took a sip.

He pondered what he wanted to say but didn't say it aloud.

What he wanted to say was, "That notebook has been in your house for over twenty years; I'm finally willing to tear it up today."

He didn't say.

Old Zhou knew it in his heart.

He smiled at Old Zhang.

The laughter was between two old extras.

The unspoken words between them were: "I've never acted in a play like this in my entire life. Today was worth it."

Xiao Zhao shoveled a few mouthfuls of rice onto the table, but couldn't finish it.

He put down his chopsticks and stared blankly at the plate of braised pork on his table.

He suddenly remembered something.

He hasn't even gone through the blind date he was supposed to meet back home yet.

His initial goal in spending the past year in Hengdian was to save up some money, go back home to go on blind dates, and then live out his life like that.

His parents found three potential partners for him back in his hometown, and he originally planned to save up 200,000 yuan this year and then go back.

He saved 110,000 yuan that year.

Based on his rate of saving money, he'll have to endure another year.

He hadn't thought about this when he was sitting on the ground with Lao Zhang, but now that he's sitting at the wrap party table, it's come to mind.

He said something to himself.

The sentence is: "I have to endure another year."

I'm not staying up for the money.

It's for the next group, and the group after that.

He's read so many books this year, he can't just go back to his hometown like this.

He also wants to act in two more plays where the script doesn't include any lines, but the director will explain the background to him.

This kind of work is rare in other film crews, but it does happen.

He has to find it.

If he finds one, he's worth it.

Thinking about this, Xiao Zhao chuckled to himself.

Old Zhang saw this smile.

Old Zhang asked, "What are you laughing at, kid?"

Xiao Zhao shook his head: "It's nothing, Brother Zhang."

Old Zhang: "How about we have a couple of drinks later?"

"drink."

Old Zhang opened a bottle of beer and poured a glass for Little Zhao.

The two of them didn't touch each other, but raised their hands in a gesture of respect before drinking separately.

This is the rule for two men eating together.

At the end of the meal, Chen Mo stood up from the main table.

He didn't leave in a hurry. He took a cup of tea and went around to each table to offer it to the guests.

He didn't drink much alcohol today; he offered tea instead.

He would clink his teacup against the table at each table, say "Thank you for your hard work," and then move on to the next table.

When he reached the table at the very back on the second floor, Lao Zhang, Lao Zhou, and Xiao Zhao all stood up.

Chen Mo held his teacup and clinked it with each of them in turn.

When he clinked glasses with Lao Zhou, he paused for an extra second.

Old Zhou smiled at him.

Chen Mo smiled too.

That smile didn't need to say anything more; the yellowed paper was now in Chen Mo's inner coat pocket.

After touching all the tables, Chen Mo returned to the main table.

Luo Yifeng nodded to him.

Chen Mo walked steadily on this lap.

He wasn't pretentious, he didn't put on airs, he didn't carry any celebrity baggage; he was just an actor who went from table to table serving tea after filming wrapped.

No one in the room said anything.

But everyone saw it.

It was past 10 p.m. when the wrap party ended.

Chen Mo came out of the restaurant. It was very cold outside. Hengdian was warmer than the north in winter, but the wind was still chilly at night.

He was wearing a dark coat and slowly walked towards the car.

Luo Yifeng caught up from behind.

"Xiao Chen."

"Director Luo."

Luo Yifeng seemed to want to say something, but then paused.

He spent the entire year with this film, from its start to its completion. He knew that some parts of the film were filmed by him, while others were not.

He didn't say those complicated things in the end.

He only said one sentence.

"This show will be broadcast soon after it's submitted for review."

"Um."

"After it airs, you should watch less online."

Chen Mo was taken aback. He knew that Director Luo didn't want him to be affected by online opinions.

Whether it's good or bad, it can affect you.

Chen Mo wanted to say that she wasn't that sensitive, but after thinking about it, she smiled and nodded, "Okay."

"You can go do whatever you need to do next."

"Um."

Luo Yifeng patted him on the shoulder and turned back into the restaurant.

Chen Mo watched Director Luo's retreating figure without giving it much thought.

He opened the car door and got in.

As the car drove out of the restaurant, he glanced back and saw a red sign hanging at the entrance that read "Wrap-up Party for the Filming Crew of 'Mountains and Rivers Under the Moon'".

The crew members were still drinking under the sign.

That concludes the play.

In the next few months, the show will go to the editing machine, the dubbing studio, the special effects company, and the TV station's screening room.

He doesn't participate.

He has finished his part of the work.

He leaned back in the back seat and closed his eyes.

Zhu Zhanji is gone, but Chen Mo's life goes on as usual.