Everyone thought Qi Shejiang was joking with them; after all, crosstalk actors enjoyed teasing, and they playfully dispersed with laughter. Qi Shejiang stood there in a daze, pondering that this segment should only have been known to his master’s followers. He thought it had been lost after his master’s passing, so he was surprised to find so many others knew it. Thinking it over, the simplicity of the Taiping lyrics meant that as he performed everywhere, it was hard to say it hadn’t been picked up by others and spread. Having understood this, Qi Shejiang couldn’t help but smile, finding it interesting. Not only did people still speak of an eight-decade-old piece, but the lyrics that were originally his family’s had now become widely known. Time is indeed wondrous. At that moment, Qi Shejiang’s phone rang. He looked and saw it was a call from Li Jing, quickly setting aside his thoughts to answer, “Uncle Jing?” “You’re at Teacher Zeng’s place, right?” Li Jing replied while typing on his computer. “So, there’s a show that Strawberry TV is recording for its third season. I’ve had a chat with them and thought about bringing you on; I just wanted to let you know. This program is called ‘Returning to Rural Life,’ which involves bringing a few groups of guests to small towns and villages to live. It’s nothing complicated. Just go and work diligently, try to shape a relatively serious image.
Li Jing believed that someone like Qi Shejiang would inevitably encounter small blunders, and the program team saw this as part of the comedic appeal—both entertaining and showcasing growth. Li Jing had already discussed the program with Qi Shejiang earlier, so he was mentally prepared. He had managed to secure an opportunity for him to perform crosstalk at the gala, so he was obliged to repay.
However, Qi Shejiang was surprised: “Just living and doing some work?” He thought he knew quite a bit about the new entertainment industry, but he had no idea that something like this existed.
Li Jing misunderstood his meaning and said, “Well… I was just going to bring this up with you…”
Qi Shejiang: “What about it?”
