Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 268 Liu Qingqing's Stage

When we arrived in the county town, it was already close to dusk.

The bluish-gray city walls gleamed softly in the setting sun, and the four large characters "Qingshan Ancient City" were faintly visible at the city gate.

Passing through the city gate, time seems to flow backward.

Underfoot is a bluestone path, and on both sides are wooden shops with upturned eaves, carved doors and windows, and some shops still have old-fashioned cloth banners hanging on them.

Su Banxia exclaimed, "It feels like I've traveled through time."

After passing through the alley, a small square comes into view, with an ancient stage standing in the center.

The ancient stage is a building from the late Qing Dynasty and is still basically well preserved.

The stage faces north and is made entirely of wood, with upturned eaves that resemble a roc spreading its wings.

The painted decorations have faded and become mottled, but the carvings between the beams and pillars are still clearly visible, depicting auspicious clouds and mythical beasts, opera figures, flowers, birds, fish, and insects.

On the pillars on either side of the platform, a couplet is engraved; though weathered by time, the characters remain vigorous and powerful:

With three or five steps you can traverse the world; with six or seven men you can command a million soldiers.

Horizontal scroll: From general to prime minister.

Wu Zhiyuan had seen this couplet at an ancient stage in another place, but he couldn't remember where it was.

Wu Zhiyuan explained, "Teacher Liu, this stage was originally built during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty and was rebuilt during the Republic of China period."

In the 1950s and 60s, this was the liveliest place in the county town, and opera troupes would come to perform during festivals.

Later, with the popularization of television, fewer people watched plays, and the stage gradually fell into disuse.

It is now a key cultural relic under municipal protection, and the county has also carried out renovations, but it has basically maintained its original appearance.

Liu Qingqing approached the stage, watched intently, and murmured, "I've been performing for over ten years and have been to many stages, both modern and luxurious, with top-notch sound and lighting."

But standing on those stages, sometimes you feel an emptiness. The technique is so good, so good that you can't feel the weight of history, you can't hear the presence of your predecessors.

"This old stage is different," Liu Qingqing gently stroked the exquisite carvings on the stage pillars. "When you stand here, you can imagine how many generations of actors have performed here."

They may be doing this for a living, or for their passion, but in this small space, they enact stories of joy and sorrow, loyalty and treachery, good and evil.

The applause, cheers, and even boos from the audience seeped into these pieces of wood.

"By the way, Zhiyuan, may I go up?"

"Teacher Liu, I'm here to ask the management staff." Wu Zhiyuan walked towards a room next door with a sign that read "Ancient City Management Office".

A short while later, a staff member in his fifties came over.

He was very enthusiastic: "Welcome, Teacher Liu. Your name is very famous. I have seen your performances on TV many times."

The stage is not usually open to the public, but artists are an exception.

The staff unlocked the brass lock on the wooden staircase.

Liu Qingqing slowly climbed the wooden stairs.

She stood on the stage and looked around.

The small square, the bluestone road, the wooden shops, and the gray city walls, all bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, create a beautiful and ancient scene.

"This stage is really nice..." Liu Qingqing couldn't help but take a deep breath and began to sing a cappella without any musical accompaniment.

"The birds in the trees are always in pairs—"

There was no microphone, no amplification equipment, but the sound was extremely penetrating, instantly grabbing everyone's ears.

She sings so beautifully and is also very beautiful.

Tourists and passersby flocked over.

Some people even took out their phones to take pictures.

More and more people gathered, looking up at the beautiful woman on the stage, dressed in modern clothes but singing traditional opera, their eyes filled with surprise and admiration.

"Isn't that Liu Qingqing from the Provincial Grand Theatre?" A middle-aged tourist in the crowd recognized Liu Qingqing.

Someone nearby immediately chimed in: "That's right, that's her! Liu Qingqing!"

I felt like I'd seen her somewhere before, and now I realize it's the famous Liu Qingqing!

"Yes! That's her! I've seen her in 'The Female General'!"

Someone searched for Liu Qingqing on their phone and exclaimed with delight, "That's right! It's definitely Liu Qingqing!"

She's even more beautiful in person than in photos! And she's a national first-class actress!

After Liu Qingqing finished singing "The Fairy Couple," someone loudly asked, "Excuse me, are you Liu Qingqing?"

Liu Qingqing nodded gently and said gracefully, "Yes, I am Liu Qingqing."

The crowd erupted in cheers at the confirmation.

"It really is Liu Qingqing!"

"My God, I've seen a famous actor in person!"

"Ms. Liu, I'm a huge fan of yours! Could you please sign your autograph?"

"Teacher Liu, please sing another verse! I beg you!"

Shouts, screams, and pleas rose and fell.

Liu Qingqing clearly did not expect to be recognized by the audience in Qingshan County.

She bowed slightly to the audience and said, "Thank you, thank you to my friends from Qingshan!"

I never expected to meet so many kindred spirits here!

I was just singing a few lines casually; I didn't mean to disturb everyone.

"Don't bother me! It sounds so good!"

"Teacher Liu, are you here in Qingshan to experience life here? Or are you performing?"

Liu Qingqing explained with a smile: "It's a private field trip, and I took the opportunity to visit the ancient stage in Qingshan and feel the roots of traditional opera."

I never expected that my impulsive act would disturb everyone's peace and quiet.

"It's not that we've disturbed your peace! It's a blessing for us!"

"Teacher Liu, one more song! We haven't had enough!"

"Yes, yes! One more song! How about a section of 'The Female Imperial Scholar'?"

……

The audience's enthusiasm surged like a tidal wave.

It was hard to refuse such hospitality.

Facing the enthusiastic audience below the stage, Liu Qingqing cleared her throat and said loudly, "Thank you all for your support!"

Since everyone doesn't mind, I'll humbly offer another excerpt from "The Female Imperial Scholar": Who would have thought she'd be the top scholar on the imperial examination list, just to liven things up for everyone!

We also take this opportunity, a century-old stage, to pay tribute to our ancestors of Huangmei Opera and to the people of this ancient city!

Before he finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted.

"To save my beloved, I left my home; who would have thought I'd become the top scholar in the imperial examination—"

The clear and high-pitched singing voice once again resounded throughout the square.

Liu Qingqing added some simple gestures and movements, her eyes sparkling, bringing to life the character of Feng Suzhen, a woman who disguises herself as a man and becomes the top scholar in the imperial examination, a character who is both proud and apprehensive.

The audience below the stage listened with rapt attention, and many people unconsciously hummed along or clapped along.

The elderly squinted their eyes, listening intently and nodding their heads, as if they had returned to the old days decades ago, when they would squeeze onto small stools to watch a play under the stage.

At some point, Xu Yunxi took Wu Zhiyuan's arm, who was standing next to her.

Her movements were very light, carrying a girl's shyness and trepidation, but her eyes were fixed on Liu Qingqing on the stage, as if this intimate little gesture was just an unintentional act.

After Liu Qingqing finished singing, the lingering sound echoed around the beams.

The applause and cheers from the audience surged forth like a tide, lasting for a long time.

"Great! That's wonderful!"

"Teacher Liu, one more time! How about 'The Couple Watching Lanterns'?"

"Little Cidian! I want to hear Little Cidian!"

The cheers from the audience grew louder and louder, and many people held up their phones to record this rare scene—a national first-class actor's impromptu singing on a century-old stage.

Liu Qingqing smiled and bowed repeatedly to the audience, then raised her hand and gently pressed it down.

The noisy crowd gradually quieted down.

"Thank you, thank you so much, friends from Qingshan! I'm so touched by everyone's kindness!"

To perform on such a historical and vibrant stage is every opera performer's dream. Today, my dream has come true!

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the enthusiastic faces in the audience, and then said, "The roots of traditional opera lie in the people, and its life lies in the audience."

Seeing that everyone still enjoys listening to opera makes me especially happy and gives me a lot of confidence.

Since everyone doesn't mind, I'll sing another verse from "The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl," specifically the line "There is so much joy in the human world," as a tribute to this beautiful ancient city and to everyone here!

May everyone's days ahead be as warm and peaceful as the sun shining over this ancient city, and as joyful and carefree as the beautiful moments in this play!

As soon as she finished speaking, another round of thunderous applause erupted from the audience, and someone couldn't help but shout, "Teacher Liu is right!"

Su Banxia, ​​who had been humming along and nodding her head, suddenly noticed Xu Yunxi holding Wu Zhiyuan's arm and chuckled, "Yunxi, if you're just watching the show, why are you taking advantage of it and tying up Director Wu? Are you afraid he'll run away?"

Xu Yunxi's pretty face flushed instantly, and she hurriedly pulled her hand back: "Banxia, ​​what nonsense are you talking about! I was just too engrossed and didn't notice..."

Su Banxia said with a grin, "Yunxi, you didn't notice, it's been quite a while."