Chapter Twenty-One: The Trial Mirror

  The day of the audition arrived quickly, early in the morning, Wang Wei was woken up by Lin Fengjiao, with a black eye circle, Wang Wei followed Lin Fengjiao to the Giant Star Company.

  Because they arrived too early, Director Song Cunshou and producer Qiong Yao as well as other crew members had not yet arrived. Lin Fengjiao took advantage of this time to rehearse with Wang Wei again. It wasn't until Qiong Yao arrived that they stopped.

  Director Song Cunshou and the male lead Sun Xiangzhong arrived at the company together. Song Cunshou introduced Sun Xiangzhong and Wang Wei to each other. "Little Qin, this is Wang Wei, the screenwriter of 'The Deep Courtyard', also the assistant director of this play." "Ah Wei, this is Sun Xiangzhong, stage name Qin Han, who will be auditioning for the male lead in this play."

  Wang Wei was certain of his guess after seeing the young man who was about to audition for the male lead next to Song Cunshou. In fact, when he mentioned the male lead that day, Song Cunshou said that he had met a young man in a gallery in Taipei, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and a temperament very suitable for playing the male role in Qiong Yao's film. He had already informed him to come and try out the male lead first to see if it would work.

  At that time, Wang Wei thought of Qin Han, because according to Wang Wei's knowledge, Qin Han had just finished his military service and returned to Taipei to sell paintings in his mother's gallery, which was very similar to the situation of the male lead that Song Cunshou mentioned.

  When Qin Han and Song Cunru came in, Wang Wei had already recognized Qin Han. So when Song Cunru introduced him, Wang Wei was not surprised. Smiling, he extended his hand and said, "Hello."

  Qin Han was taken aback for a moment after listening to Song Cunru's introduction of Wang Wei, then shook hands with him and said, "Teacher Wang, hello."

  When Qin Han called himself Wang Laoshi, a cold sweat broke out on Wang Wei's forehead. Wang Laoshi? How could it be that as soon as you hear it, people think of an old professor in his 40s with no hair on top of his head and eyes hanging under the bridge of his nose.

  Wang Wei hastily waved his hand and said: "No need to call me teacher, look at me, I'm even younger than you, just call me Ah Wei, it sounds weird to be called teacher."

  Qin Han also felt that calling Wang Wei "teacher" was awkward, but Wang Wei's identity was there, so he had no choice. At this time, when he heard Wang Wei say this, Qin Han hesitated in his heart. Song Cunshou, who was on the side, saw Qin Han hesitate and also spoke up: "Ah Han, since Ah Wei says so, you can just call him that. After all, you're both young people, and saying 'teacher' back and forth sounds awkward."

  After hearing Song Cunshou's words, Qin Han nodded slightly. At this time, the trial actors of other roles had arrived one after another.

  The trial shoot is about to begin. The first scene is a confrontation between Lin Fengjiao and Qin Han. Before Lin Fengjiao's trial shoot, Wang Wei gently held Lin Fengjiao's hand, looked into her eyes and said: "Ah Jiao, you must forget your own identity now, imagine yourself as Zhang Hanyan, don't worry, trust me, with your performance, it will definitely pass in one take."

  Lin Fengjiao nodded and tightly grasped Wang Wei's hand before heading to the dressing room.

  After a while, Lin Fengjiao and Qin Han came out of the dressing room. Song Cunshou nodded to them, indicating the start. The two were acting out the scene where Zhang Hanyan and Bo Wen reunited in the ruins.

  "A" Song Cunshou said to both of them

  "Have you worn a rose?" "Yes, I picked it from the flower bed." Fang Siyun gazed at the blind man with her deep and profound big eyes.

  "Is the flower bed still there? That round flower bed?" A glimmer of light flashed across the blind man's face, revealing a look of longing.

  "Yes, it's still there, and it's full of yellow roses. However, they're growing among a pile of weeds." Fang Xueyun said slowly, with obvious sadness. (Liu Xuehua's slightly hoarse voice, which carries a sense of vicissitudes, makes this sentence unforgettable!)

  "Weeds? Are there weeds everywhere here?"

  "Yes, weeds and ruins." Fang Siying walked forward a few steps on her own, sizing up the surroundings.

  "Weeds and ruins? This used to be a place with flourishing flowers and trees." The blind man followed Fang Siying for a few steps, then leaned on his cane and sat down dejectedly on a stone slab, lowering his head in sorrow.

  "I can imagine," Fang Siyun looked around: "You seem very familiar with this place?"

  The blind man raised his head: "Familiar? More than familiar! This is my place, my house, my garden, my home!" (Qin Han performed that kind of helplessness, nostalgia and desolation perfectly!)

  "So you've lost a lot of things?" Fang Siyin asked lightly.

  "I've lost the whole world!"

  "CUT!" Song Cunshou shouted, "Great, I regret not using the camera earlier. Otherwise, we wouldn't have to re-shoot this part."

  Qiong Yao on the other side also spoke up, "Yes, Xiao Qin and Feng Jiao are both very much in character. It's very much like the original drama. If Director Song hadn't called cut just now, I was prepared to keep watching."

  Qiong Yao and Song Cunshou told each other that they had passed the screen test. Lin Fengjiao was overjoyed, couldn't help but throw her arms around Wang Wei, and gave him a passionate kiss.

  Qiong Yao on the side suddenly shouted: "A Wei, why don't you try it too? If you succeed in acting, you won't even need to fake a kiss."

  After listening to Qiong Yao's teasing words, Lin Fengjiao suddenly realized that this was still an audition. She blushed with shame. On the other hand, Wang Wei had gotten used to Qiong Yao's teasing and calmly said, "How dare I? I don't want Big Brother Qin to say I'm stealing his rice bowl."

  On the other hand, Qin Han was thrilled because of his successful audition, but unexpectedly found himself caught in the "crossfire" between Qiong Yao and Wang Wei. This left the usually refined and elegant man at a loss for what to do.

  Next were the auditions for the roles of Bai Mu, Ai Lin and Gao Li De. After a round of selection, all the roles were finalized. Except for Lin Feng Jiao and Qin Han, the two main characters, all the other actors remained the same as in the 1971 version of "The Courtyard", namely Fu Bi Hui, Li Xiang and Wang Rong.

  After the actors are set, the next step is to find a filming location. Someone has already been sent to look for it and will probably find one in about two days. So now we just have to wait until the filming location is ready to start shooting.

  After all the actors finished their screen tests, Wang Wei and Lin Fengjiao returned home to prepare, as this was the first time they had been away from home for so long.

  That time, after Wang Wei handed over the manuscript to Xue Bing, Xue Bing paid 20,000 yuan in cash to Wang Wei because there was not enough money, saying that he would transfer the remaining amount to Wang Wei's account. Wang Wei did not check until Xue Bing came again to retrieve the manuscript and told Wang Wei that the money had been transferred to his card.

  Wang Wei then went with Lin Fengjiao to the bank to check their account. Looking at the numbers on Wang Wei's account, Lin Fengjiao was stunned. More than 200,000 yuan, even if she sold herself, she probably couldn't get half that amount of money. Lin Fengjiao had never thought that she would see so much money in her life.

  Since the three trials, some things Wang Wei no longer concealed from Lin and Wang's families. After getting the money, Wang Wei's thoughts began to become more active. He wanted to change the environment for Lin Fengrui's family and his own mother, because the living conditions of both families were really too poor. After returning home, Wang Wei asked Lin Fengrui to call her parents to his house, and then shared his thoughts with the three elders. As a result, the three elders unanimously opposed it, and in the end, Wang Wei had no choice but to give up.

  But this time Wang Wei is going out for so many days, leaving his mother alone at home, Wang Wei is a bit worried. So Wang Wei wants his mother to move to the Lin's house first.

  "No, Ah Wei, it's not convenient for a single woman like me to move in with your Uncle Lin's family. Even if your aunt doesn't say anything, others will." Mother Lin immediately refused without hesitation.

  Wang Wei saw that his mother disagreed, thought for a moment and then said: "Mom, it's okay if you don't go, but you must promise me to find a servant, otherwise I won't go with the crew."

  "What are you looking for a servant for? I'm still in good health, if you didn't stop me from working outside, I could still take on jobs. You've just started earning money, how can you be so extravagant?" Mother Wang was somewhat dissatisfied with her son's lavish spending.

  "Even if I don't have to do anything, it's fine just chatting with you. If you don't agree, I won't go." Wang Wei said firmly.

  The queen mother looked at her son for half a day, and then lightly sighed: "Okay, do whatever you want." Wang Wei heard his mother agree, and he went out with a happy face to find a servant for his mother.

  The queen saw her son go out, and sat alone on the bed, muttering to herself: "Ah Long, did you see? My son has grown up. He knows how to be filial and endure." After finishing speaking, tears slowly flowed down her cheeks.