Huayu: Starting from managing the Mahua FunAge Theater Troupe

"Mom, I really didn't lie to you, we really did have lobster and abalone for New Year's Eve dinner today."

At 7 p.m., Xiong Naijin stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of a luxury suite on the 18th floor of the Beijing Hotel, looking at the reflections of Shen Feiyang and others in the window, as well as the night view of Beijing below, and whispered to the person on the other end of the phone.

"Don't try to fool me, there's no such thing as a good boss in the world." Mother Bear thought her daughter was only reporting good news and not bad news, and that she was suffering in Beijing but insisted that she wasn't suffering.

"Really, I'm not kidding you. Wait until we take the photos today, and I'll send you one later. You'll see when you see it."

Mother Bear said with some skepticism, "Alright, Ya'er, take good care of yourself while you're out there."

"I know. Okay, now go have dinner with Dad, bye-bye."

After hanging up the phone, Xiong Naijin, holding her phone, turned around and walked to the dining table.

Not all the dishes have been served yet.

A group of company employees and their families were seated around the dining table.

Everyone else was present except for Yu Kai and Ai Lun.

Yu Kai settled down in Beijing, while Ai Lun is a local from Beijing and his home is nearby, so he went home for the Chinese New Year. The others' hometowns are all over the country, so it's inconvenient for them to travel back and forth, which would delay their rehearsals and performances.

Six of the employees' family members came.

Shen Teng's parents, Shen Teng's older sister Shen Na, Huang Bo's girlfriend, and Jiang Yan's parents.

Because of Shen Na's appearance, everyone realized that Shen Teng and Shen Feiyang were not the most handsome boys in the Shen family; Shen Na was.

Jiang Yan and her parents are from Dalian. Her family has been in business for more than ten years and is quite wealthy. After Jiang Yan was admitted to Beijing Film Academy last year, her mother came to Beijing and bought a house to accompany her full-time.

Jiang Yan did not choose to go home for the winter vacation. Instead, she chose to perform in sketches and join a theater troupe to perform in stage plays. Her parents did not object. A few days ago, her father even made a special trip to spend the New Year with them, since she is their only daughter.

Yu Shasha only realized how low-key her classmate was after staying at Jiang Yan's BJ apartment during the winter break.

Upon seeing Xiong Naijin return, Yu Shasha stepped aside, and Xiong Naijin sat down in her seat.

Yu Shasha casually asked, "Sister Xiong, have you finished calling Mom and Dad?"

"Mm." Xiong Naijin nodded.

Yu Shasha smiled and said, "Don't your aunt and uncle believe me?"

Yu Shasha was also a child raised in an ordinary working-class family, and even her tuition fees were borrowed from relatives.

Xiong Naijin smiled helplessly and said, "Yes, I've explained it several times."

"Haha, me too." Yu Shasha shared, "I sent the 1500 yuan I earned from performing during this period to my mother. She couldn't believe that being an actress could actually earn money, let alone that I had found a job and didn't have to ask my family for living expenses and tuition fees anymore."

Xiong Naijin nodded: "Me too."

She then whispered to Sha Sha, "As long as President Shen doesn't kick me out, I want to work in the theater troupe for the rest of my life."

Yu Shasha chuckled and said, "That's what I think too."

Yu Shasha continued, "I heard that after the New Year, they will rent houses and arrange dormitories specifically for us actors from other places. When I came to take the entrance exam for Beijing Film Academy last year, I was so poor that I could only rent a basement."

"Oh my, Mr. Shen is so kind." Yu Shasha glanced at Shen Feiyang, who was chatting with Jiang Yan's father.

She admired Shen Feiyang, but she also knew in her heart that the gap between them was too big, which is why she pushed Jiang Yan to get closer to Shen Feiyang.

Xiong Naijin nodded noncommittally.

When she was 15, she went to study at the Quyi School of the SC Provincial Art School. After graduating, she joined the SC Provincial Quyi Troupe as a Qingyin (a type of folk song) performer. She saved money by working to prepare for the entrance exam for the Beijing Film Academy. She used the money she had saved from her previous job to attend the Beijing Film Academy, and her family provided very little financial support.

The fact that the company can solve her housing problem is definitely a good thing for her.

Girls like Xiong Naijin, who have clear academic goals and future career paths, often have some ambition.

The troupe's recent series of successes, including tonight's New Year's Eve dinner worth 10,000 yuan, have made Xiong Naijin realize the enormous potential hidden in Shen Feiyang, and she can't help but have some other thoughts in her mind.

"The dishes are all served. Let's welcome President Shen with applause so he can say a few words," Shen Teng said with a smile, leading the applause.

Shen Teng is recognized as the company's number three leader. With Yu Kai absent, he naturally takes charge of things.

Shen Na looked at Shen Feiyang, who was completely unfamiliar with her distant cousin.

As one of the top lyric soprano singers in China, Shen Na was busy with various performances last year and did not go home, so she naturally did not meet Shen Feiyang.

It was only recently, when she called her parents to ask what Shen Teng had been doing, that she indirectly learned what Shen Feiyang had been up to.

Splash splash splash splash splash.

Shen Na clapped along with the others.

Shen Feiyang stood up, picked up his glass of cola, and looked around at everyone at the table: "This meal isn't for any other reason than to thank everyone for their hard work over the past two weeks. Whether you were acting on stage or helping out off stage, you've all been working non-stop, and I know that."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Shen Teng's parents and Jiang Yan's parents before settling back on the employees: "Tonight's meal is the first New Year's Eve dinner our troupe has ever earned. I hope that next year at this time, not only will we be here, but we'll have two more tables. Cheers."

Shen Feiyang raised his cup slightly.

"Cheers."

Everyone was holding drinks or tea, but no one was drinking alcohol. How could they enjoy this lavish meal costing tens of thousands of yuan if they drank alcohol?

After setting down their cups, everyone began to use their chopsticks.

Eat and chat.

The TV in the room was on, tuned to CCTV-1. The weather forecast had just finished airing, and a little while later, the 2004 CCTV Spring Festival Gala began.

Familiar background noise.

Everyone glanced at the television.

The influence of the Spring Festival Gala in northern China is undeniable, affecting hundreds of millions of people.

It can be said that it was precisely because of the Spring Festival Gala that stage comedy, a niche performance form, became a national cultural phenomenon, providing fertile ground for its existence.

Sketches are also a type of stage comedy.

Shen Teng joked, "Tell me, at my age, if I become famous overnight after performing on the Spring Festival Gala, what kind of life will I lead?"

Shen Feiyang: "Damn, if you don't eat barbecue three times a day, you'll get so fat you'll die."

"Hahaha……"

Everyone laughed.

"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey..."

Shen Teng put on a gloomy expression: "Can't you wish me well for once?"

They were chatting and laughing.

Uncle Benshan has made his appearance.

This year at the Spring Festival Gala, he once again partnered with Gao Xiumin and Fan Wei to present the skit "The Water Delivery Man".

Everyone watched the program quietly.

Uncle Benshan's sketches are incredibly popular, drawing massive audiences in both the north and south, demonstrating the immense influence of this contemporary comedy master.

Shen Feiyang watched TV and wondered if he would have the opportunity to collaborate with Uncle Benshan in the future.

After watching "The Water Carrier," the Spring Festival Gala came to an end, with only four or five more programs remaining.

Everyone got up and left.

Shen Feiyang escorted everyone downstairs.

Jiang Yan and her parents took a car back, and Yu Shasha stayed at their house and went with them.

Shen Teng took a taxi home with his parents and sister.

It's quite easy to get a taxi near the Beijing Hotel.

Huang Bo drove an 11-seater Jinbei van to take the others home.

Shen Feiyang didn't leave; he went upstairs.

While the Beijing Hotel uses its deluxe suites as private rooms, all other functions of the suites, including accommodation, are retained for the entire night.

Shen Feiyang figured he'd already spent the money, so he might as well stay.

……

Here.

The Jinbei van had just left the hotel parking lot.

Xiong Naijin got off the car.

"I'll go back and get my phone. You guys go ahead. I'll take a taxi home myself later. Sorry for the trouble."

"fine."

"be safe."

Xiong Naijin nodded and closed the car door.

After watching the car leave, Xiong Naijin turned and walked back to the hotel.