260 Inspirational Divine Comedy 'Your Answer', a bowl of chicken soup for everyone
On January 1, 2002, time came to a new year.
But for most Chinese people, the biggest change is just changing the date from 1 to 2, and the Spring Festival is coming soon.
Jiang Chang carried an old cloth bag and walked into the basement he rented with a sullen face.
There are four people living in a house of less than 10 square meters. Luggage and sundries are piled high. It may be an exaggeration to say there is no room for feet. It is uncomfortable for four people to stand together.
In the cold winter weather, the basement was damp and cold, mixed with an indescribable odor.
But Jiang Chang was used to it. He took a look at his roommate who was sleeping and lying down, wrapped the bag in it, put it in the corner, closed his eyes and squinted.
It wasn't until around 7 p.m. that the other three roommates got up one after another and left the basement with curses and complaints.
Of the four people in the basement, only Jiang Chang works as an extra, most of whom work during the day. The other three are on the night shift, working as waiters, security guards, and doormen in bars or restaurants.
Jiang Chang has been in the capital for more than a year and has experienced more than a dozen roommates. These three roommates are his favorite.
It has nothing to do with character or personality, but their work allows Jiang Chang to have a very rare period of quiet solitude at night.
He took out the cloth bag that he had hidden before. Inside was his dinner today, which included 10 yuan of pork head, a roasted chicken leg, a pound of pancakes, and two bottles of beer.
This is the best meal Jiang Chang has had in private in the past two months. If it wasn't New Year's Day today and he wanted to get some luck, he wouldn't be willing to spend the past two days' income on this meal.
Jiang Chang thought he would be very happy eating this rare "luxury" meal, but in fact it was tasteless and even uncomfortable.
Two years ago, he came to the capital from his hometown and accidentally joined the group acting industry.
There is a myth in the group performance world in Beijing, and even in the group performance world in China as a whole, and that is the King of Heaven, Cao Xuan.
Everyone knows that Cao Xuan worked as an extra for two years, and even many old extras from Beijing Film Studio vividly recounted their experiences working together with Yesterday Wang.
But except for the newbies, few believe it.
The elimination rate in the group acting industry is too high. Less than 20% can sustain a career as an group acting for more than three years.
Cao Xuan performed as a group performer from 1995 to 1996. It has been almost five years since then. I cannot say that people who have seen him perform as a group performer are rare.
As for drinking and begging for help, if you think about it with your brains, you will know that if you really have a good relationship with someone, King Cao can just help him, and you don't have to squat in front of Jingying.
Although Cao Xuan became famous largely because of his cheating in the music industry, and he is also handsome. He is not an ordinary grassroots group act, and his experience of becoming famous is almost impossible to replicate.
However, his legendary experience as a group performer still inspired countless young men and women to join the army of bit players, hoping to become the next king and queen.
Nowadays, if you randomly ask anyone in the group performance about your idol, more than 80% of them will answer Cao Xuan.
They don't necessarily like his songs or his film and television works, but they like and admire his experience. Cao Xuan has become the spiritual pillar of the group like Wang Baoqiang in the future.
Jiang Chang is also a member of countless extras who admire and envy Cao Xuan.
When he first entered the industry, he had firmly believed that if Cao Xuan could do it, Jiang Chang might not be able to do it.
But as time goes by, Jiang Chang no longer has extravagant hopes for popular kings and first-line stars. Now he can be a special agent and a member of the group, which is a great thing.
Even now, Jiang Chang is even more worried about whether he can get a job tomorrow.
The Chinese New Year is coming soon, can I go home? What about my bus ticket home? What about my rent?
The more Jiang Chang drank, the more numb he became. Today is a new year, which also means he is one year older. He has accomplished nothing and has nothing to gain. This makes him constantly reflect on why his life has been such a failure.
Anxiety and depression filled his heart. Jiang Chang looked at the small and crowded basement and became more and more disgusted. He took his lunch box and beer, locked the door and left the basement.
The cold wind was blowing, and Jiang Chang walked aimlessly on the street, looking at the people hurriedly passing by around him, feeling increasingly lonely.
Until he reached a familiar snack bar, Jiang Chang stopped and walked in.
He is a frequent visitor to this snack bar, not mainly for eating, but because there is a TV in the store and he often shows it to customers. When Jiang is free, he comes over to order a bowl of cheap noodles and watch the TV.
There is a TV at the entrance of this convenience store. Daily broadcasts attract passers-by and gather popularity. Jiang Chang is a frequent visitor here and comes over from time to time to watch the TV.
Well, the beautiful young proprietress of the store is also an important reason.
It was a cool and windy night, and business in the store was particularly poor today. There were not a single customer, and only the wife of the shop owner was bored watching TV commercials.
On a normal day, Jiang Chang might go over and say a few words, but he was really not in the mood today, so he just put away his lunch box.
"Let's get a beer and cook some vegetables."
The landlady looked at her in surprise. She knew Jiang Chang, a regular customer who watched TV.
Usually it's the cheapest bowl of noodles, which costs basically 3 to 5 yuan, and then I keep seeing her closing. Sometimes there aren't many customers, and there's no space occupied, and she doesn't even order anything.
He is the stingiest and most shameless customer she has ever had since she opened the store.
The iron rooster was plucking its feathers today, so she couldn't help but be surprised: "Did you win the lottery?"
"No, I just don't want to do it anymore. I'm going back to my hometown. I'll have a meal before leaving to say goodbye to you."
Jiang Chang smiled, but it was very bitter. The landlady immediately understood that young people from out of town were frustrated and returned to their hometown. She had not experienced much of this scene, but she had heard of it a lot.
The proprietress ran to the kitchen and cooked two dishes. The store was not big and mostly served fast food. Basically, her chef grabbed the cashier. There was an aunt who helped serve the dishes in the evening. There were no customers today, so the aunt asked for leave.
"Come on, if you have nothing to do, my sister will go with you."
The landlady looked like a caring elder sister giving advice. Jiang Chang glanced at her and said, "You drink by yourself, don't blame me."
"It's time to dig you to death."
The landlady gritted her teeth and cursed, but she didn't leave. She also advised him: "Don't be discouraged, there is still a long way to go. Look, sister, my husband died after two years of marriage. Now life is still good and business is booming."
"
Jiang Chang raised his head and glanced at the empty store. It was indeed booming.
However, it is better to have someone to drink with you than to drink alone. Jiang Chang doesn't like to complain and just drinks to himself cup after cup.
The landlady couldn't persuade him, and she drank with him one after another. Just when the atmosphere was getting more and more dull, a scolding came from the TV.
"Since you can't pass the exam, then go home and farm."
The two were attracted by the sound, looked up at the TV, and found that it was Li Xuejian, who played Song Jiang, looking at a young man squatting in the corner with hatred.
Before Jiang Chang could wonder what TV series this was, the young man raised his head and nodded reluctantly but silently.
"It's Cao Xuan!"
Jiang Chang shouted, then became even more confused. He hadn't heard that Cao Xuan had any new movies released.
But the melody that soon sounded reminded Jiang Chang that this was not a movie or TV series, but the MV of Cao Xuan's new song.
The camera turned to show Cao Xuan shirtless and sweating profusely on the field, but was rejected by Li Xuejian's father, but in an instant he had plans for him.
"Look at the way your land is dug, it's not suitable for farming. I'll find your uncle and you can become an apprentice with him."
In the next scene, Cao Xuan plays the suona with the wedding and wedding team. Once on the way back, a musician in the same group boasted about his experience in the capital. Cao Xuan's eyes lit up as he silently wiped the suona.
At home, Cao Xuan proposed a plan to go to the capital to his parents, but was interrupted by his father Li Xuejian angrily.
"The capital is so easy to get around, and I want to fly before I even learn how to walk!"
But that night, after tossing and turning, my father still took out a few hundred dollars from the corner and threw it to Cao Xuan the next day.
"If you can't survive, come back. If your father is not dead, you will have food to eat."
Cao Xuan, who was full of expectations, came to the capital. The big city with many high-rise buildings was both strange and enviable. Cao Xuan, who had been silent all the time, stood on the bridge, with joy and the vitality that a young man should have on his face, looking at the cars driving under the bridge.
Shout loudly.
"Jingcheng, I'm here."
After nearly a minute of plot and prelude, Cao Xuan’s deep voice finally sounded.
"Maybe the world is like this
I'm still on the way
no one can tell
Maybe I can only be silent
Tears moisten eyes
But not willing to be cowardly
………”
In another plot, Cao Xuan came to the capital and worked as a coolie, carrying bags, and carrying bricks to build walls. He was tired and heavy, but he could only grit his teeth and hold on.
In an accident, Cao Xuan was roped in as an extra and was given fifty yuan afterwards. Seeing the crew busy, this was the second time Cao Xuan laughed in the MV.
The light hit his leaving back, making people unable to see clearly.
From then on, Cao Xuan became a member of the troupe, a corpse motionless under the scorching sun, a bitch who was kicked away, a runaway who was commanded over and over again, still trembling with cold but still fighting in single clothes.
.
In the morning, I ran frantically to the entrance of the Beijing Film Studio, scrambling for work, devoured lunch boxes at noon, and crowded into a small room after the show in the evening.
The assistant director pointed at me and scolded me. On my birthday, I looked at the cakes in the transparent window of the cake shop and ate steamed buns outside. I was soaked in the heavy rain alone. When the landlord pressed for rent, I hid under the bed and did not dare to say anything.
.
I cried, laughed, suffered, and felt confused.
When he is busy, singing with the old guitar he bought with the remaining money is his greatest comfort and entertainment.
In a dark and cramped room, a person entertains himself alone, with a shallow smile, but very happy.
"Keep your head down and look forward to the day
accept all ridicule
Embrace the rainbow to the wind
Move forward bravely
…”
The figure of Cao Xuan playing the guitar suddenly lit up from the dark room and arrived at the karaoke hall. The guests cheered and the boss happily gave him a hundred-dollar bill.
At night, Cao Xuan ran happily on the road with his guitar on his back.
While he was running, a series of scenes flashed by, and he was spotted by the assistant director as an extra, and he was cast in a certain important role.
Got acquainted with the record company, recorded singles and albums, the album became popular, Cao Xuan sang at the album signing event, and the fans were packed with people and cheered.
The scene then shows a solo performance on the Spring Festival Gala stage, a legendary moment of holding five trophies at the Golden Melody Awards ceremony, and a highly anticipated figure of 100,000 fans at the Temple of Heaven Concert.
The light shines again, and it's the young man who works hard on the set and plays the piano and sings in the room.
Cao Xuan's hoarse and high-pitched voice burst out from the TV, sending out the cry of his soul.
"The light of dawn will transcend the darkness
Break all fears and I can find the answer
Even if you have to go against the light, you can dispel the darkness
drop all burdens
There are ten thousand kinds of power
drowning in loneliness
no longer alone
…”
At the end of the MV, Cao Xuan wore a suit and was interviewed by a reporter played by Zeng Li.
"Mr. Cao, do you have anything to say?"
Cao Xuan faced the camera and said seriously and sincerely: "No matter when and where something happens, stay confident and don't deny yourself. Your answer is in the future. Come on!"
At the snack bar, the proprietress looked at the MV that ended. She didn't know how she felt. She was so sore and swollen that she wanted to cry, but at the same time she felt very energetic.
Looking back at Jiang Chang, he was already looking at the TV with tears streaming down his face.
If the boss lady just felt a little emotional when she saw this MV, then Jiang Chang, who was also born in a rural area and became a group actor, almost saw a replica of himself when he saw the plot in this MV.
Jiang Chang's defenses were broken instantly. All the previously suppressed emotions could no longer be suppressed and he burst into tears.
This was the first time that the landlady saw an old man crying while listening to music. She hurriedly grabbed the toilet paper, handed it to Jiang Chang, and comforted him.
"Don't cry. You are singing so well. You have to move forward bravely. You are a young man in your early 20s. You still have a long life ahead of you."
"I'm not leaving."
Jiang Chang wiped away the tears on his face, gritted his teeth with red eyes and said: "I can't go back to my hometown in despair, and the group can't do it either. I will run behind the scenes. If I can't do it, I will change my career. I have to be like myself."
"That's right."
The landlady clapped her hands and said: "Show your ambition as a man, I'll treat you to this meal today. When you get rich later, I'll wait for you to invite me back."
Jiang Chang took a deep look at the landlady and drank the wine in one gulp: "Okay, you wait for me."
"I'm waiting for you."
The landlady smiled heartily and made an agreement with Jiang Chang.
………
"Your Answer" is an inspirational song that has become popular all over the Internet.
Different from Cao Xuan's previous inspirational songs such as "First Dream", "Stubborn" and "Running", this song is more suitable for adults to listen to.
Despite all the hardships of reality, we still have to face life positively.
Cao Xuan specially took out part of his own experience and adapted it into a MV, hoping to resonate with some people and gain inspiration.
This is a bowl of chicken soup that Cao Xuan gave to everyone.
Although "Chicken Soup for the Soul" has been criticized, sometimes people do need such songs to cheer up and comfort their souls.
Perhaps, this song will not have a substantial positive effect on someone's future, but at least at this moment, it dispels the confusion and hesitation in some people's hearts and gives the listener the direction and motivation to move forward.
Music empowers people, and this may be the greatest success of an inspirational song.
"Your Answer" relies on its highly resonant musical appeal and the MV mixed with Cao Xuan's personal experience, and is known as Cao Xuan's own song of his own heart.
Once released, it immediately became the most popular song in Cao Xuan's new album "Four".
However, the other title songs are not much less popular...
