Huayu: Starting from managing the Mahua FunAge Theater Troupe

It was a little after 6 p.m.

It was during the evening rush hour.

On Tianqiao South Street and Beiwei Road, traffic flowed continuously, accompanied by constant honking and shouting.

Tianqiao Le Tea Garden stands at the intersection of these two highways.

Shen Feiyang, Yu Kai, and Shen Teng arrived early.

Shen Teng came to listen to the crosstalk performance, and incidentally acted as a shill.

At this moment.

Shen Tengzheng was standing at the entrance of Le Tea Garden, being interviewed by reporters.

A reporter asked Shen Teng, "Mr. Shen, why did you come to Le Cha Yuan to buy a ticket to watch the crosstalk performance by the 'Yunshe'?"

Facing the camera, Shen Teng said with a serious expression, "I heard half of 'The Dream of the Western Expedition' playing on the radio, and I was enjoying it when, bam, it stopped. Who could stand that? So I came over to hear if this little fat guy could finish the second half for me."

"The chubby little black guy?" Seizing on a potentially explosive detail, the reporter pressed, "Are you referring to Guo Gang?"

"Hahaha……"

Shen Teng laughed and said, "Sorry, I just said it without thinking."

Reporter: "Do you think Guo Gang is not good-looking?"

"How should I put it..."

Shen Teng's eyes darted around: "It's not that she's not good-looking, it's just that she has very distinctive features."

Reporter: "Do you think it's a bit of a rip-off to spend 30 yuan, or even 80 yuan, to listen to a relatively unknown crosstalk performer?"

"Of course I don't feel like I'm losing out..." Shen Teng casually asked the guy next to him who was listening to the interview, "Do you think you're losing out?"

The guy next to me also wanted to be interviewed. After looking around expectantly for a while, he immediately chimed in with a thick Beijing accent, "I don't think so. I was drawn here by the crosstalk performances of the 'Yunshe' troupe. I've only ever heard their crosstalk on the radio, but these guys..."

"Ahem," Shen Teng reminded him, "Please use polite language."

"Cough cough, it's these people. They actually told me that I had to come here to hear the full version when I was having a good time. It really made me furious. I spent 80 yuan on the most expensive ticket today. If they can't make me laugh today, I'm going to report them."

The reporter asked a few more questions, and after gathering enough material for the pre-performance interview, they entered the venue.

There was a media section inside, which was just two rows of chairs temporarily added.

Today's performance features three pairs of contracted partners from the Yunshe Entertainment: Guo Gang and Yu Qian, Cao Yunjin and Sun Yue, and He Yunwei and Li Qing.

Besides them, there were two pairs of temporary performers who acted as hosts and warm-up acts. Each person performed once and earned 100 yuan in service fees, which was much better than before when they didn't receive any service fees at crosstalk galas.

The other staff members on site were all Guo Gang's apprentices working part-time, mainly Zhang Yunlei, Zhu Yunfeng, Pan Yunxia, ​​Kong Yunlong, and Yue Yunpeng.

The five people took on part-time jobs as a host, security guard, and errand runner. The part-time host received 50 yuan in service fees, while the others received 30 yuan each.

Guo Gang mainly advised against giving too high a salary, as apprentices need to work hard.

Earning extra money was a side benefit for these five people; their main purpose was to learn the art of crosstalk by listening to performances live.

Shen Feiyang, Yu Kai, Zhang Yanfu, and Zhong Zhaohui stood on the stairs leading to the second floor to watch the performance.

All the seats were sold out, and the remaining seats and chairs were reserved for reporters, leaving the four of them with very little room to move around.

Looking at the packed lobby, Zhong Zhaohui couldn't help but exclaim, "I never expected that Yunshe's first performance here would be such a sell-out. Mr. Shen, you're truly amazing."

Zhong Zhaohui gave a thumbs up.

Zhang Yanfu chimed in with a compliment: "President Shen is indeed capable."

Shen Feiyang said without any modesty, "This is nothing. Once our company appears on Zhao Benshan's show and competes with a bunch of Spring Festival Gala big shots, our reputation will only grow stronger and we'll become even more popular. When that time comes, Lechayuan can just sit back and count the money. However, Mr. Zhang and Manager Zhong, I have to remind you two of something."

"Mr. Shen, please go ahead."

Zhang Yanfu and Zhong Zhaohui looked at Shen Feiyang.

Shen Feiyang looked at Zhang Yunlei, who was going on stage to announce the show, and continued, "While making money, we also need to upgrade the facilities at Le Cha Yuan. At the very least, we should install air conditioning, otherwise it will be too hot for the summer performances."

Zhang Yanfu and Zhong Zhaohui exchanged a glance, feeling somewhat uneasy.

They believed that Shen Feiyang was in a position of power, instructing them on how to do things.

But given the current situation, they really don't dare to disregard Shen Feiyang's opinion, even though they signed a one-year contract.

The reason is simple: the contract only stipulates a penalty of 500,000, and it does not specify that the company must send a designated actor to perform at each show.

If 㯖允社 continues to be this popular, large venues may be willing to pay the breach of contract fee to poach 㯖允社.

What's worse is, what if Guo Gang doesn't come to any games at all?

Zhang Yanfu could only reply, "What President Shen said makes a lot of sense. If the performances continue to be a hit, we will definitely apply to our superiors to upgrade the decoration and equipment at Le Cha Garden."

"I'm sorry to have troubled you, Mr. Zhang," Shen Feiyang replied casually.

Splash splash splash splash splash.

After Zhang Yunlei finished introducing the program, applause rang out from the audience.

Shen Feiyang and the others also clapped.

The performance lasted for more than two hours.

The three pairs of performers from the yuu-sha each performed two to three acts, carrying out most of the show's duration. The impromptu performances as interludes and warm-up acts also performed quite well, and the entire audience was filled with applause and laughter.

The reporters recorded everything truthfully.

Local radio and television stations were able to report this news as early as the early hours of the morning.

The newspaper will be published later, tomorrow night or the day after.

……

the next day.

November 26th, around 3 a.m.

Zhao Benshan came to Beijing specifically to meet with Happy Media regarding the recording of "Chinese Comedians" and also to see Shen Feiyang.

Shen Feiyang brought Shen Teng, the core screenwriter of "Country Love", to the hotel where Zhao Benshan was staying to discuss matters related to "Country Love".

Shen Teng was quite looking forward to this meeting.

In his view, Zhao Benshan is first and foremost a very talented and great actor.

Despite not having formal training, he can convincingly portray any role, a feat even more outrageous than being born with natural talent.

Step into the executive suite.

Zhao Benshan sat in a chair.

Upon meeting Zhao Benshan, Shen Feiyang first introduced Shen Teng: "Teacher Zhao, this is Shen Teng, a pillar of our Happy Twist comedy troupe, and one of the core screenwriters of 'Country Love'."

Zhao Benshan looked Shen Teng up and down: "You two brothers look quite alike."

Shen Feiyang smiled and said, "He's my cousin."

"Teacher Zhao." Shen Teng bowed slightly and greeted him politely.

"No wonder. They're all so handsome, better looking than me."

Zhao Benshan made a small joke and gestured for the two to sit down: "Please sit down."

Shen Feiyang and Shen Teng sat down in front of Zhao Benshan.

Zhao Benshan looked at Shen Feiyang: "I quite like the story framework of 'Country Love,' which shows the beauty, warmth, joy, and authenticity of rural daily life. But I feel that something is missing. Could you let the screenwriter experience life in the countryside for a few months and improve the script a bit more?"

Shen Feiyang thought for a moment and said, "Okay, but I'll have to find a new screenwriter because Shen Teng's main job is with Happy Twist."

"Okay, just produce the script by the end of the year, and we can discuss other things then."

"Okay, let's have lunch with Mr. Wei and talk about 'Chinese Comedians' again."

"OK."

……

After confirming the final recording details with Joy Media, Joy Mahua's stage play and crosstalk businesses are both waiting to climb to new heights.

While waiting.

Shen Feiyang contacted Heilongjiang TV through Liu Liu and asked them to recommend some writers or screenwriters who could write rural stories. He eventually found Zhang Ji, the screenwriter of "Yimeng Ballad".

"Yimeng Ballad" is the initial version of "Hometown Love," and the script was held by Heilongjiang TV.

Shen Feiyang then extended an invitation to Zhang Ji, asking him to complete the scriptwriting for "Country Love".

……

the other side.

The reputation of the yuen-sha in small theaters is growing.

The Beijing Evening News published a report with the headline: "Crosstalk Night at Tianqiao Teahouse: The Old Beijing Flavor is Back," and the subtitle: "New Group 'Yunshe' is Popular, Laughter Returns to Hutongs."

The Beijing Youth Daily published a report titled: "Half-finished crosstalk sparks craze, is crosstalk also resorting to 'hunger marketing'?" The subtitle reads: "From 'BJ Crosstalk Festival' to 'Wayunshe,' is the spring of small theaters here?"

The Beijing News published a report titled: "Folk Crosstalk Group 'Yunshe' Holds Sold-Out Premiere, Rekindling the Popularity of Traditional Performing Arts in Beijing," with the subtitle: "Experts Point Out: The Vitality of Folk Forces is an Important Sign of the Revival of Traditional Culture."

The Beijing Entertainment News published a report with the headline: "Rising Star of Drama Also 'Chasing' Crosstalk? Shen Teng's Night Visit to Tianqiao Le Tea Garden!" The subtitle reads: "Calling Guo Gang 'Little Black Fatty' and 'Very Distinctive-Looking,' Is It a Joke or a Praise?"

The performances from March 26th to March 28th were all sold out.

On March 31, Le Tea Garden opened pre-sales for tickets for Thursday's April 1 session a day in advance. At this time, the ticket prices increased again to 100 yuan, 80 yuan, and 50 yuan, but the tickets still sold out.

On the afternoon of March 31st.

The Beijing Evening News published a commentary in its culture section titled: "Tickets for crosstalk performances in Tianqiao rise to 100 yuan: 'Revitalization' or 'Speculation'?"

The article mentions that an "unnamed person from the crosstalk industry" said that the return of crosstalk to theaters is a good thing, but the ticket prices of hundreds of yuan are tantamount to killing the goose that lays the golden eggs, "treating the audience like leeks to be harvested."

The article also quoted a consumer as saying, "I was lured in after hearing half of it on the radio, but when I got to the theater I found out the price had gone up, and I wasn't happy about it."