This trailer included segments of the main actors’ behind-the-scenes training, with the male and female leads being the most tortured, having been subjected to the longest training, and coming next was Qi Shejiang. Tang Shuangqin played the segment where Qi Shejiang was performing while balancing on stilts. At first glance, the fans and media didn’t think much of it, assuming it to be behind-the-scenes footage of Qi Shejiang performing street art. However, Qi Shejiang sat down, revealing that he had been standing on stilts! As he rolled up his pant legs and loosened the straps, everyone could see what was beneath. The crew had also prepared stilts on site to show people what they looked like, explaining everything, causing gasps. “How do you walk in those?” “Didn’t you see how hard it was to stand? That sweat…” “To perform a skit, it takes at least twenty minutes, half an hour.” “Qi Shejiang really doesn’t look like someone who can endure this!” In addition, the crew prepared recordings of the various prototype figures. Qi Shejiang’s imitation of Xiao Yin Yue was surprisingly convincing. This could still be attributed to their kinship, but the stilt performance was something he truly practiced and mastered.
No wonder Tang Shuangqin has such high hopes for Qi Shejiang! It’s really astonishing; it must hurt so much to wear this, and Qi Shejiang is actually stepping on it, performing crosstalk, and laughing. Coupled with the scenes in the trailer where Qi Shejiang jumps onto the railing, the more I think about it, the more I feel—Tang Shuangqin is truly not human! But only a director as inhumane as this, pushing the actors to memorize “Jin Ping Mei”, perform on the streets, and walk on stilts could forge such a work, could wear himself thin.
A week later, Qi Shejiang and Zhang Yue disguised themselves and went to see “Yuan Yang Kou” together, both wearing masks and glasses, only taking them off after entering the theater. As it was a midnight showing in the last row, there was indeed no one next to them. The two of them watched the film together; having seen the footage for the music and post-production, the complete final cut was still a first for them. The music flowed, the sounds of the sanxian reverberated; first, there was a distant view of the male lead holding a black umbrella, stepping out of a teahouse. The camera pulled back and followed his footsteps forward. He slowly crossed the sky bridge, passing by street performers, artists playing drum songs, and crosstalk performers, then entered the theater, where the character Xiao Yinyue made her first appearance, and applause erupted from the audience below.
The male lead closed his umbrella and looked up, pausing for two seconds with his profile framed against the backdrop of the stage and audience. A long, gray-tinged shot lasting a full minute brought a whiff of the old times. Zhang Yue whispered in awe: “Tang Shuangqin’s visual language is really rich and delicate, and of course, the best part is still your debut.” Qi Shejiang smiled and looked at him, “Do netizens know you can speak so well?” “They don’t need to know,” Zhang Yue said proudly as he put his arm around Qi Shejiang and continued to enjoy the movie. The role of Xiao Yinyue played by Qi Shejiang laughed and cursed on the big screen; seeing the male lead in a predicament, she reached out to help. Disagreeing with the troupe owner’s views, Xiao Yinyue resolutely left and promised not to perform “Wang Qing Yu” in other troupes anymore, giving her final performance of “Wang Qing Yu” on this stage. Qi Shejiang’s acting was entirely mimetic, portraying the historical Xiao Yinyue with every smile and gesture. Many film critics later mentioned this point, stating that one must look at the recordings of Xiao Yinyue and the descriptions from others to fully appreciate Qi Shejiang’s performance.
Zhang Yue was well aware of the story; he focused on Qi Shejiang on the big screen. As the story approached its climax, Xiao Yinyue delivered her ten-year swan song, “Wang Qing Yu”. Zhang Yue watched the screen and murmured, “Sometimes, I feel like you’ve simply walked out of that era…” Qi Shejiang, nestled in his arms, slowly sat up straight and said gently, “Maybe I just did?” Zhang Yue intended to laugh, but upon seeing Qi Shejiang’s expression, he paused. It was not until the audience began to weep at the protagonist’s fate that Zhang Yue returned to his senses and embraced Qi Shejiang again, with the truth or origin not mattering anymore. “What’s here is mine now; it can’t run away,” Zhang Yue whispered into his ear. . “Yuan Yang Kou” achieved success at the box office and received rave reviews, with audiences interested in various topics related to the film, including the historical prototypes of the characters. Various materials were dug up for research, comparing the performances of the actors. The musical scores by Zhang Yue and Qi Shejiang were also widely praised, with several sampled pieces from the zidi shu receiving accolades, and the theme song, before the film’s release, had already found a place in the streaming charts. This is what Qi Shejiang, as a successor, should do: revive the zidi shu in a new form that people can accept, even come to love.
He even hoped that it would not only be seen as music for traditional themes but that more people would appreciate it in its own right.
In no time at all, Qi Shejiang made his public debut as a crosstalk performer, having been collaborating with Xu Siyu for over a year and gradually passing the adjustment period, stabilizing their stage style.
At this time, Li Jing expressed the hope of organizing a solo crosstalk show for Qi Shejiang and Xu Siyu.
They planned to find a large venue in the capital. First, they would hold a solo show, and if it went well, he wanted to discuss a nationwide tour, marking it as a summary of their progress and achievements.
Qi Shejiang was willing; he and Xu Siyu already had a fair amount of work lined up, so a solo show was no problem.
As soon as this news was released, fans erupted in excitement.
Jesse’s crosstalk solo performance! There might even be lengthy performances of zidi shu, and reports suggested that the ticket prices were even cheaper than buying tickets for live recording events!
In these past months, Qi Shejiang and Xu Siyu had also collaborated on some marvelous sketches, so even passersby who saw the news were tempted to buy tickets to watch.
The reaction was so intense that Li Jing quickly contacted a promoter, secured the venue, and booked a large hall for seven to eight thousand people, even allowing for extra seats, enough to accommodate over ten thousand.
Another major topic of public interest was whether Qi Shejiang would invite guests. His disciples like Meng Jingyuan and Zeng Wen were expected to be the opening act, but if they came, it could hardly be called an opening act; they would be special guests.
Furthermore, where would his good friend Zhang Yue sit? Would he remain in the audience, or would he get up to sing a song? If all of them could come, the ticket would be even more worth it!
In fact, it wasn’t just the audience; Qi Shejiang was also grappling with this dilemma. He was currently affiliated with the Meng faction in crosstalk, and organizing a solo show would naturally require consideration of his fellow disciples; his partner Xu Siyu was in the same boat. This list needed to be finalized with Meng Jingyuan’s assistance.
“Hmm… this…” Meng Jingyuan was already chewing on the pencil. “Add one more person.” Suddenly, the old man Meng, who was sitting on the bed drinking water, said this. Meng Jingyuan, without raising his head, asked, “Who?” Old man Meng replied: “Me.” “Clatter.”
Meng Jingyuan’s pen fell to the ground. Qi Shejiang, who was holding a water bottle, was also stunned. Was the old man… joking? He hadn’t been on stage for almost twenty years!
