godfather

The final exam of the first semester of the third year of senior high school is over, and the students of all grades enter the stage of overtime work during the winter vacation.The homeroom teacher was also on the verge of getting angry. First he made a phone call, but later he heard that Meng Jianmin was in poor health, so he even went directly to visit his home, which shows how much he attaches importance to the two brothers.

"Xiaobei's parents, I have to discuss Meng Xiaobei's volunteering with you two."

"I am very optimistic about Meng Xiaobei. At least three of our third middle school students will take the art special examination this year, and Meng Xiaobei is the most likely to be admitted. There is no doubt about his ability. Our teachers all believe him!"

"but!"

"However, it is too difficult for him to apply for the Central Academy of Fine Arts."

"Schools in Beijing are difficult to take the exam after all. Central American? How many candidates apply for Central American every year! There are thousands of candidates in Beijing, from all over the country, and there are also those who are promoted from Beijing or other places every year and take the self-examination. It is really crowded. That small narrow road, the single-plank bridge!"

The class teacher in the third year of high school worked so hard, he had a big pimple on his nose, and he couldn't calm down after drinking a big mouthful of tea after speaking.

Meng Jianmin said: "We may not have considered such difficulties, but he has expressed to me many times the wishes of our boss. You also know that he has studied in Beijing for ten years, and his grandparents are there-he just wants to take the exam. Beijing!"

Meng Jianmin has more confidence in his son than Xiaobei's head teacher has in Meng Xiaobei.He buried in his heart a life turning point that had been suppressed for 20 years and had not been realized. He never said it out of his mouth, and he entrusted all his physical and mental hopes to the boss.Every time I think about it, it's like trying to dig out a lump of infatuated flesh and blood from the coughing and watery chest cavity, and I want to send Meng Xiaobei back to Beijing with both hands, rushing towards a bright future.

The head teacher patted his thigh and waved his hand: "There are too many children who want to go back to Beijing! Back then I also wanted to take the exam in Beijing's normal school, but I failed the exam by three points. I could only be assigned to our local school in Xi'an. As a result, I I can only stay in Xi'an for the rest of my life, but I'm still one of the teachers with the highest education in our third middle school. There are top students in the class who hope to be admitted to Beijing, and we definitely encourage them! Not enough. If he wants to be admitted to Central American University, his professional examination must be at least the top two in Shaanxi Province. For the Department of Painting, how many students are recruited in the whole province? Northwest provinces have even fewer quotas than others. The quality of our students’ ability to compete in the college entrance examination competition is no match for Shandong, Sichuan and Hubei. The competition is so cruel ah!"

After talking about Meng Xiaobei's question, the homeroom teacher began to talk about Meng Xiaojing earnestly.

"And your second child, he is in the class next to Xiaobei. The head teacher in his class has been sick for the past few days and has a fever and is on an IV drip, but he still insists on coming to school, so let me talk about Meng Xiaojing for him."

Meng Jianmin frowned: "What happened to Meng Xiaojing?"

The teacher was amused as he talked, and his eyes moved: "Master Meng, your two eldest sons are indeed special talents in our school, a very special pair of talents, students that our teachers admire, outstanding and outstanding. "

Meng Jianmin: "..."

The teacher said: "Meng Xiaojing's volunteer draft form, the first choice he filled out was Chinese opera."

"Your parents know Chinese opera, right? In the movie "Red Sorghum", Gong Li, Jiang Wen...yes, and Chen Daoming who played the role of the last emperor!"

……

The teacher talked to Meng Jianmin, and Meng Jianmin called his relatives in Beijing to talk.Meng Xiaobei's volunteering was a big deal for the whole family, and the three aunts and six aunts went around to help inquire about the application materials.

Meng Xiaobei's CALL phone rang.Shaotang: 【Nine o'clock in the evening, the reception room is waiting for my call. 】

Shaotang made an appointment and came prepared to talk to Meng Xiaobei.Shaotang said, I have inquired about the situation of the Academy of Fine Arts for you, and I have packed all the materials and sent them to you.

Meng Xiaobei said, thank you godfather.

Shaotang went on to say: "The school is indeed the best in the country, but thousands of people sign up every year, no more than 5.00 people are admitted to the painting major, and even fewer are admitted to the design department, and the admission rate is less than [-]%, do you know that?"

Meng Xiaobei said: "The quota is reserved for me, and I am the 5.00%!"

Shaotang was thoughtful and difficult: "Xiaobei, I have also carefully considered your teacher's opinion, and your teacher is right. There is a conflict between coming to Beijing for the exam and your province's art exam. You can only press one volunteer now. You apply for Xi'an The Academy of Fine Arts is more confident, so we really don’t need to take risks. Ximei is also a well-ranked school. The professors have taught you, and they already know you and appreciate you. It's not worth it for you to easily give up the opportunity in Xi'an."

Meng Xiaobei said: "I didn't consider applying to schools in Xi'an, and I filled all my volunteers in Beijing."

Shaotang: "Why?!"

Meng Xiaobei: "What do you think?"

Shaotang became anxious on the phone.

From the microphone, Shaotang could be heard standing in front of the desk, walking back and forth, stretching the phone line, making a nerve-tingling electrical sound.

Shaotang said: "Meng Xiaobei, I know what you're thinking about. You heard me tell you that you have to apply for a local school in Xi'an. I believe you have the ability, but the first choice is all based on luck. This province entrusts you end!"

Meng Xiaobei was also anxious: "If I apply to Xi'an school, what should I do if my first choice is not passed the exam?... I can only squat in this den of Xi'an for another four years!!"

Shaotang said: "Generally, majors in Beijing are unwilling to accept the second and third volunteer candidates from other places. All colleges and universities in Beijing have thousands of applicants. I know this fact even if I have never been to a university! You will have three volunteers. You're all blind, what are you going to do?!"

Meng Xiaobei said: "My second and third voluntary colleges, the Beijing University of Technology and the Academy of Arts and Crafts both have specialist painting departments. These two are enough to guarantee the bottom line."

Shaotang was stunned: "...the college you applied for?"

Meng Xiaobei was very calm: "Godfather, I have already thought about it."

"As long as I can study for a junior college in Beijing, CAFA has a quota for undergraduate promotion every year, and I can continue to take the exam."

"If I don't even get the college score, I'll still go to Beijing! I can also take the adult self-examination until one day I pass the exam!"

Shaotang didn't say anything for a while, and poked his heart hard, maybe his life in this life is still too smooth, but there are always people in this world who live more difficultly.With every step, he stumbled, climbed up and struggled, and marched towards the light above the narrow courtyard.And Shaotang seemed to be standing on the mouth of the well, looking at Meng Xiaobei from a distance, and wanted to stretch out his hand, but his fingertips couldn't reach it, and he couldn't use his strength.

The phone line was clutched in the palm of his hand, about to break.

Shaotang suddenly became angry: "You obviously can go to undergraduate, you apply for a junior college, Meng Xiaobei, are you confused! ... You just stay for another four years, what's the matter? At worst, I will find a way to transfer to you in the future, don't be like this Nonsense!"

Meng Xiaobei: "I'm not messing around... I just don't want to stay here."

Shaotang: "There is nothing wrong with Xi'an."

Meng Xiaobei: "There is nothing wrong with Xi'an, but I can't stand Xi'an without you."

"A place without you isn't my home. Is it my home?"

The two fell silent on both sides of the phone, and their minds were jumping to think about three years, five years, ten years away, the huge waves in front of them, and the shining treasure at the end of the road.However, there seemed to be an insurmountable mountain in front of him, and the mountain was filled with fog, so he couldn't see the other party's face clearly.

Shaotang said: "Xiaobei, I can make a report to change jobs at any time, or I can be transferred to the general staff, so I can work more freely. At worst, wait another three to five years. I'm not afraid of waiting, I won't change."

Meng Xiaobei dismissed it unceremoniously: "I'm afraid of waiting! Wait for another four years, when I finish my four years of college in Xi'an, how old are you, Shaotang? You're already 36!! By then you will be old, you Still want to be nice to me?... What are we doing?!"

Shaotang was stunned: "..."

Meng Xiaobei said fiercely: "Are you going to drag me into old age too?...I don't want to."

"I know what's in my heart, don't worry about my business."

"Shaotang, I don't need you because I'm a retired major. Just wait for me, I will definitely go back to Beijing to see you after the exam."

Meng Xiaobei is very stubborn.The person he is looking for and the things he is looking for will be discussed.The tone at that time was the determination and solemnity of the young strong man who was not afraid of the heavens and the earth, and Yishui Xiaoxiao.It feels like if you fail the test, you will never talk about the word "reunion" in this life.

******

Winter is approaching the end of the year, and people come and go in the dormitory compound of the factory, visiting relatives and alleys, but Meng Jianmin's house is deserted.

The two sons are so busy that they hardly go home during the Chinese New Year.When the son grows up, he has ambitions and big ideas, and his parents can't intervene and control him at all.Meng Jianmin and Ma Baochun sat opposite each other at home, feeling at a loss for what to do with their leisure—is this the rhythm of the two sons going crazy?

Let me talk about Meng Xiaojing first. At that time, he was still squatting all day in the backstage of the Xi'an Repertory Theater, "squatting", waiting for work.

He is not an official employee of the drama theater, he is just a job.There is no wage subsidy, and it is not possible to earn a lunch box for five yuan every day.The director's roll call depends on his luck, and he has to wait for the rehearsal schedule.

Introduced by Nie Hui, he has also been to TV stations, where he formed a group backup dancer in song and dance programs, or worked as a "babysitter" for TV stars invited by the program group in variety shows.Once, Taili paid a lot of money to invite the crew of Journey to the West, which was very popular at the time, and four Tang Seng, mentor and apprentice came on stage with makeup!Meng Xiaojing turned into a Peking Opera boy's face, wearing a flesh-colored tights with bare feet, carrying a hula hoop decorated with colored paper as a universe circle, and only stepped on a pulley.He stood behind the four dazzling big red flowers of the master and apprentice, with a smirk full of enthusiasm, followed the front row and posed, pretending to be that "Nezha"... like a circus.

He still receives five yuan a day and a lunch box.

At the end of the TV program, on the cast and crew list, his name will usually flash past in the list of dozens of [extras] or [other assisting personnel].The audience has already switched channels during this period of time, and no one has time to look at the "garbage list".

……

Nie Hui came over with a small bag, and ran straight to the backstage of the theater, stepping on a floor of promotional posters and colored paper, looking for Meng Xiaojing.

A girl who takes the initiative to do this is really caring.Nie Hui wore an ultra-short wool skirt with pantyhose and boots. She wrapped her hands around the skirt for fear of losing it all, so she squatted in front of the set panel and squatted intimately with Meng Xiaojing.Nie Hui whispered: "Meng Xiaojing, you are so stubborn that I called again yesterday and talked a lot for you and cleaned up your ass! The director said that it is such an important thing for you to appear on stage during the Spring Festival Why did you push? You said you didn't have time?"

Meng Xiaojing said, I really don't have time, I'm going to prepare for the Beijing art test after the Spring Festival, so I won't be on the show this month, for fear of delaying things.

As soon as Nie Hui heard the word "Beijing", she complained, she murmured, sullenly: "Meng Xiaojing, why don't you apply to our Xi'an Dance Art School, or Xi'an Broadcasting Conservatory of Music! You can also work in a TV station after you come out, what do you think?" Woolen cloth?"

Meng Xiaojing said: "I don't want to be a backup dancer and singer for others. I don't have that level of lead dancer and lead singer. After all, I lack professional foundation."

Nie Hui said anxiously: "Who needs you to sing and dance so well! That's a degree, with a bachelor's degree from an art school. In the future, we will be able to officially hire you as a program planner, director, and you will no longer be a temporary worker!" "

Meng Xiaojing: "... Nie Hui, can we not talk about this?... Can I not go to your father's TV station?"

Nie Hui: "...Meng Xiaojing, what do you mean? I want to help you wholeheartedly. Is there something wrong with my dad?"

Meng Xiaojing avoided the eyes of others gossiping and went to the corner: "No, no."

Nie Hui stood up suddenly, and asked in a daze: "Then which school do you want to apply for? You just want to go to Beijing?!"

Meng Xiaojing turned his face away: "...um."

Nie Hui's face became even paler, and a bunch of red blood burst out on her cheeks: "You go to Beijing, what about me? My total score is not enough, so I will definitely not be able to pass the university entrance examination in Beijing. Why don't we separate? We plan to go to Beijing to develop after graduation, so it’s good for us to stay at home, my parents are here, so why don’t we go to Beijing and become ‘North Drifters’?!”

Meng Xiaojing discussed with the girl: "Otherwise, you can take the drama academy exam with me, [-] points in the cultural class is enough, your conditions are better than mine, and the family's way is hard...Your admission is better than I hope."

Nie Hui rolled her eyelids, revealing a hint of sullen anger: "I don't want to be admitted to the Drama Academy. The entertainment industry is too messy, what kind of woman would go in and be an actress to be ruined by a group of old men? You want me to be an actor? I will never set foot in this business, and I don't want you to."

The better the family conditions, the better the peacock man and the peacock woman will have a big career in the local family, with parents and strong backers, they will not be willing to give up the local network of contacts easily, and they will not be willing to jump into the entertainment industry. Dye vat.

To be a second-rate or third-rate actor?

North Drift?

It's so cheap!They all came from the rural areas of small counties. Apart from their own good capital, they have no other family background or means. They went all the way north to the big cities. They started from the bottom of the crowd and struggled to find all opportunities. A group of people who are eager to become famous at all costs. .In the local area, whoever is the second-generation local tyrant with a family background, who is so rare about the word "Beijing"?

"Meng Xiaojing, that is, you are rare."

"It's just you and your brother Meng Xiaobei. If you want to get yourself to Beijing, I can't understand you two!"

Nie Hui was particularly wronged: "The relationship between the two of us has faded. I will definitely not go to Beijing to develop, you should have known."

Meng Xiaojing was silent.

Nie Hui's eyes slowly turned red: "If you really get admitted to the Nortel Central Theater School, there are more beautiful girls chattering than sparrows in the sky. They are flirtatious and thick-skinned. When the time comes, you will be surrounded. A group of girls drowned! Will you still be with me?"

Meng Xiaojing: "...I didn't want to break up with you."

The two really liked each other back then.However, young love cannot withstand storms, and there are too many couples in this world who are separated from each other at the crossroads of life.

Nie Hui shouted, "Meng Xiaojing, have you never thought of making friends with me seriously, you are just playing with me!!!"

Nie Hui walked away with red eyes, stepped on the stairs crookedly with her high heels on the stairs, almost sprained her feet, and tears fell out.

Meng Xiaojing didn't chase after her either, and watched Nie Hui's back in the cold wind.

His left wrist gleamed with the luster of amethyst under the lamp.That was the last time the two of them went to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Nie Hui bought a string of colorful ropes, took apart her own crystal necklace, and made a bracelet for Meng Xiaojing.

Meng Xiaojing sat on the steel frame in the backstage, smoking with a blank expression, and knocked the ash all over the floor.A handsome face, the profile is as cold as a sculpture.He has clear goals all these years, and he probably won't give up his future for a girl.

……

Meng Xiaojing felt ashamed to spend lunch in the troupe at noon, so he ran to the small restaurant outside the gate of the compound, took off his gloves covered with black stains and paint, bought two sets of Roujiamo, and ordered a bowl of mutton soup.

Drink the mutton soup to warm up your body, and then run back to continue squatting.It was the director's turn to call out the extras to move, and it was time for the scene. He quickly took off his paper hat, threw away his gloves and apron, and went on stage to act in his part, which lasted less than a minute and a half.There are three lines in total, which I know by heart...

Meng Xiaojing suppressed and buried a line in his heart for many years, and never had a chance to say it out.

A person with a heart and ambition like Meng Xiaojing is born with a natural beauty and good looks, a star face, whoever he pretends to be.Would he be willing to stand foolishly behind others as a "human flesh background board" and be a green leaf for others all his life?

He just wanted a chance.He wants to be able to stand out one day, and he feels that he is no worse than anyone else.

In the evening, Meng Xiaojing wore a pair of white line gloves worn by workers, and the gloves and shirt were covered with sludge. He helped the theater stage staff to paint the background board, and leaned on the corner of the wall to paint with a big brush.Sometimes he folds a small paper hat with newspapers and puts it on the top of his head. With the slanted hair curtain, his eyes are more handsome, and he looks quite cute.Even squatting in the dimly lit corner of the backstage, without any packaging, and dressed in the most simple and authentic attire, he is still a handsome boy... He runs around in the theater, looking for work hard, and fills in wherever there is a shortage , strike up a conversation with everyone who passed by him, the whole repertory troupe from the leader to Xiaogong, in short, they all know the name Meng Xiaojing.

In the theater troupe, there were also a few middle-aged aunts who could not make it in ten thousand years. They discussed in private that Meng Xiaojing's child was in the job bowl, and the girl's surname was Nie!How many families are there with the surname Nie?Isn't it the TV station's so-and-so family! ...

There was a burst of lively greetings in the native dialect at the door.

In their repertory theater troupe, there is an old-fashioned actor surnamed Zhou. He is a native of the Northwest.This person has been in Beijing and Xi'an for many years, and has appeared in CCTV TV dramas. He is also a well-known actor from Shaanxi.Meng Xiaojing enthusiastically called the other party Uncle Zhou.

When I saw Meng Xiaojing on the first week of the week, I said, "Hey, handsome guy, why are you? I remember you."

Meng Xiaojing hurriedly stood up, threw away the dirty gloves, and said with a smile: "Uncle Zhou, did the electric fan you bought last year still work? If it doesn't work, we will guarantee it for you in the store!"

Uncle Zhou laughed and patted him on the back of the shoulder: "It works. I have been using it at home. Later, two people in our group went to your store to buy fans and tape recorders. You didn't know it. It was because of hunger." The customers you introduced, the customers you helped you attract!"

Meng Xiaojing smiled handsomely, with a sweet mouth: "Thank you, Uncle Zhou, for taking care of my business! It is also because you encouraged me with one word at that time, saying that I can do this job, so I came here to find you! You opened the door for me with one word A guiding light, I would never be here today without you."

Uncle Zhou said, then I'll talk to the leader about recruiting you to be an actor in our troupe?Why don't you just play tricks, and try acting as the second male and the third male?

Meng Xiaojing pursed his lips and listened, and confessed at the time, I want to go to university, I want to go to a big city, I want to... go to Beijing or Shanghai.

"Uncle understands what you mean." Uncle Zhou nodded and stretched out a thumb: "You boy has ambition."

"If you want to go to Beijing for the exam, the Chinese Opera Nortel, Shanghai and the Shanghai Opera, these three are the best. The three have special admissions for art exams in Beijing every year. You ask your school to issue a letter of proof for you. , and then call to sign up in advance, don’t miss the special recruitment exam every year! You haven’t been to an art school, you still have to prepare in advance, uncle will tell you what you need to take in the basic skills of the art exam... recite sketch vocal music Lines, body and dance, these are compulsory subjects, I will teach you the same thing..."

Meng Xiaojing said, "Are you my mentor?"

"I will definitely pass the exam."

Meng Xiaojing yelled out "Mentor", can Da Zhou help him?

A few days later, Da Zhou went to Chengdu to perform and earn money. At this time, the father-in-law happened to be ill, and he couldn't accompany him for a minor operation in the hospital!The daughter-in-law didn't want to fight with him, but she signed the contract without going to pay liquidated damages.

As soon as Meng Xiaojing heard about it, he rushed to the hospital immediately, and performed filial piety for his "master" in front of and behind the bed.He went to accompany Da Zhou's old father-in-law in bed for two nights!I heard that his master and father-in-law love to listen to operas, and he specially brought a small tape recorder to accompany the old man to listen to and sing operas in the ward. The doctors and nurses in the entire department knew him.

Meng Xiaojing did this very well.

In the circle, the most important things are superiority, loyalty, loyalty, and connections. The entertainment circles everywhere also have their own "mountain tops", seniors and old people.A younger generation who doesn't have a family background, if you want to get ahead, you have to be helped by a master and lead into the mountain gate, otherwise the circle will not take you to play at all.Da Zhou is also a quick-tempered guy who is really willing to work hard to raise children, and has made many phone calls to his acquaintances in Beijing University.Later, he called Meng Xiaojing to his home for one-on-one tutoring, and taught him how to perform sketches, how to read on stage, perform physical performances, and how to explode emotionally to impress the audience and the strict examiners.

……

In their No. [-] middle school, the winter vacation cram school for senior senior students lasted until the eve of the Spring Festival.During the period, only the two brothers, Meng Xiaobei and Meng Xiaojing, were absent the whole time, and the cultural class was almost given up.The two "school grasses" are well-known figures in the school, and people in the school call them "Shuangsha of art examination".

Meng Xiaobei reported to CAFA, and his second and third volunteers were art majors at two universities in Beijing.

Meng Xiaojing reported to the Chinese opera.

If you want to be admitted to these two schools, there is no shortcut.The two schools are self-enrolled within the school allowed by the national policy, and the number of admissions is evenly distributed among the provinces, which is the one and a half places.In other words, the two of them basically had to get No. 1 in the province in their professional exams.