sovbooks Chapter 14: A Glimpse of Youthful Spirit Through Wine
Chapter 14: A Glimpse of Youthful Spirit Through Wine
The round table in the private room was filled to the brim.
Guan Shengbai glanced at the scene and immediately understood the situation.
The dishes on the table are all Shandong cuisine, and not the kind of modified versions that fool laymen, but the authentic traditional dishes.
The braised sea cucumber with scallions was neatly arranged in the center of the table. The sea cucumber had absorbed the aroma of scallion oil and was shiny with an amber luster.
The braised pork intestines were cut neatly, and the sauce was so thick that it wouldn't drip off the spoon.
The fish slices in the sauce were white and tender, served with wood ear mushrooms and bamboo shoots, emphasizing a fresh, smooth, and tender texture.
There were also a few dishes he couldn't name, with a rustic appearance that didn't seem like the kind of things commonly found in the market.
Next to the table stood several newly opened bottles of Langyatai, an old brand from Shandong. The liquor was clear and had a high alcohol content.
Professor Chen Bing took out a bottle of Moutai from the trunk and placed it on the table. Just by opening the cap, the rich aroma of the liquor filled half the private room.
Before long, the table was filled with clinking glasses and a lively atmosphere.
Guan Shengbai thought to himself, "That's more like it."
Kong Sheng and Li Xue are both from Shandong. They have worked in public institutions like Shandong Film Studio for more than ten years, and their culture of drinking is deeply ingrained in them.
Singing karaoke in a villa, raising silver arowana in a pond, serving tea at a dinner party while pretending to be profound and mysterious—that's the style of a big boss from Chaoshan.
If they put on this kind of show in Shandong, the deal is unlikely to go through, because they're just putting on a show.
But once the Shandong guys start drinking and get into a serious conversation, they're ready to get down to business.
The air of mystery that director Kong Sheng initially created was completely shattered after the drinks started flowing.
"Come on, try this!"
Kong Sheng took a sip of baijiu, his face slightly flushed, and pointed at a dish that had just been served, spitting as he spoke.
You can't get this dish authentically outside!
This is called Fushan Roasted Chicken, a recipe passed down from generation to generation!
They select young roosters from that year, stuff their bellies with scallions, ginger, and Sichuan peppercorns, coat them with a layer of honey, and slowly roast them over fruitwood charcoal.
The last chicken dish served had crispy skin and tender meat; even the bones were fragrant!
As he spoke, he tore off a chicken leg with the deft movements of a master chef, a stark contrast to the aloof and enigmatic director from just moments before.
Li Xue, the bald, burly man standing to the side, seemed rather reserved, sitting there not saying much, but when he drank, he was even more voracious than Kong Sheng.
He accepts toasts from anyone who offers them, and drinks a glass of baijiu without batting an eye, as if it were just plain water.
Guan Shengbai and Chen Bing exchanged a glance, their eyes conveying the same message.
The teacher's words were so inaccurate. Earlier in the car, she said that Kong Sheng was not talkative, while Li Xue was more talkative.
Now, things have completely reversed between the two.
"Don't just eat vegetables! Let's have a bite first!"
Another round of toasts followed.
Guan Shengbai stood up with his wine glass in hand and downed it in one gulp without hesitation.
The fiery liquor slid down his throat, and it felt like a fire was burning in his chest, a feeling he was all too familiar with.
In my past life, I worked in public relations, and drinking parties were like a never-ending banquet. I had to attend all sorts of banquets, from industry bigwigs to paparazzi and people from all walks of life.
Guan Shengbai naturally possessed a vast amount of knowledge.
The body is in good shape now. Although the previous body wasted two years, the foundation is still there, and the alcohol tolerance is actually enough to hold its own in a situation.
After several rounds of toasts, everyone's faces turned red.
Kong Sheng opened up completely, talking about everything from Fushan roast chicken to the cooking time of braised sea cucumber with scallions, and then from the cooking time to the differences between Shandong and Sichuan cuisines, chatting about everything under the sun.
Halfway through the meal, Kong Sheng put down his chopsticks and casually asked Guan Shengbai a few questions about his time at the Beijing Film Academy.
Guan Shengbai answered concisely, saying what needed to be said and not uttering a single word that shouldn't have been said.
Kong Sheng nodded and asked Wang Kai the same question a few more times.
Changing the subject, Li Xue suddenly spoke up: "You two have both read the script, so tell me, how do you interpret the character Fang Mengwei?"
coming.
Guan Shengbai put down his wine glass, knowing that the real test was just beginning.
Wang Kai has clearly been thinking about this role for a long time.
He put down his chopsticks, sat up slightly, and spoke earnestly but without sounding deliberate.
"I think the core of Fang Mengwei's character is idealism."
He was a young man who worked in the police station and had seen the darkness, but a fire in his heart never went out.
He had deep feelings for his family, especially for his eldest brother, Fang Meng'ao. The complex emotions he felt towards him—a mixture of respect, love, and a touch of misunderstanding—are what make this character so captivating.
Kong Sheng nodded slightly without interrupting.
Wang Kai continued, "And most importantly, Fang Mengwei's sense of despair as an idealist who is battered and bruised by reality is the keynote of this character."
After hearing this, Guan Shengbai mentally raised his opinion of Wang Kai by one notch.
Those who were favored by Confucius were certainly not just pretty faces.
Wang Kai's understanding of the character was almost spot on, which is why he was able to bring the character to life in the original version.
It was his turn.
Guan Shengbai picked up his wine glass, took a sip to moisten his throat, and instead of answering directly, smiled and said, "Teacher Wang Kai is absolutely right."
Upon hearing this, everyone at the table was taken aback.
Chen Bing kicked him under the table.
Guan Shengbai changed the subject: "But I think what Teacher Wang said was 70% of Fang Mengwei. The remaining 30% is the youthful spirit he possesses."
"Youthful spirit?" Kong Sheng raised an eyebrow.
"right."
Guan Shengbai said unhurriedly, "Fang Mengwei is twenty-three years old in the script. He has worked his way up from the Beiping Police Bureau. He has seen dead people, corrupt officials, and all sorts of rotten things."
But the youthful spirit in his heart hadn't dissipated.
The reason he cursed in the scene with the five-person group wasn't out of despair, but because he was resentful.
He paused, his gaze swept across the table, and finally landed on Kong Sheng's face.
He was indignant that good people were wronged, that corrupt officials could get away scot-free, and that he had to personally investigate the elder brother he respected.
That sense of injustice stemmed from the youthful spirit unique to teenagers, not from the despair of shattered idealism. These are two completely different things.
At this point, Guan Shengbai suddenly stood up.
Everyone at the table turned to look at him.
There's a line in the script that I really like.
He ignored those gazes, simply tilting his chin slightly upwards, his eyes instantly becoming sharp and burning.
"General Zeng, your purpose is nothing more than to investigate my father through my elder brother."
His voice was steady, yet thunderous energy lurked in the final syllable of each word.
The table fell completely silent.
Guan Shengbai seemed oblivious to the silence; his gaze passed over the cups, plates, and bowls on the table and landed on some unseen distance.
"What else can your Ministry of National Defense do besides investigating your own comrades?"
Fueled by the alcohol, his tone rose slightly, and his steps became quick and disordered, like someone extremely angry spinning in place.
"From the five-person team to the Ministry of National Defense investigation team, to the public opinion polling committee, to the Beiping branch."
They killed several Communist Party members who hadn't embezzled a single penny, and also killed innocent students who weren't Communist Party members.
The five-man group disbanded. Xu Tieying returned to Nanjing after the killings and launched a thorough investigation into corruption in Beiping, arresting only Ma Hanshan, who was executed in Nanjing ten days earlier.
And what did we do?
He turned around abruptly, as if facing an opponent who was very close, his finger pointing straight into the void.
At that moment, everyone at the table had a strange feeling.
It was as if the other person in this scene in the script was standing opposite Guan Shengbai, being poked in the chest with a finger by him.
"General Zeng, I'm not talking about you. You're a filial son, sending your entire monthly salary back to your parents in Jiangxi."
But you can't just do what they do!
Guan Shengbai's voice suddenly lowered, and that lowered voice was even more unsettling than his previous impassioned tone.
"You only have one father, but I have one father and an older brother who is only a few years older than me since I was little!"
"Since they can't defeat the opposing side, the Kong and Song families dare not make a move. So they specifically target us easy targets, even forcing their sons to persecute their own fathers, using feudal ethics like the Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues to glorify themselves—"
He paused, and the last sentence seemed to be squeezed out one word at a time from between his teeth.
"Tell me, is this what you call propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame?!"
There was a three-second silence in the private room.
In fact, Guan Shengbai's behavior would be somewhat awkward under normal circumstances, and it also had a sense of recklessness in his eagerness to show off.
However, when combined with this line and his earlier statement about "youthful spirit," there is an inexplicable sense of "harmony," which actually dilutes the incongruity of his behavior at this moment.
Representatives from several production companies exchanged bewildered glances. One of the middle-aged men even instinctively leaned back in his chair, as if he had been hit in the face by something.
When they came to this dinner, they all privately felt that Kong Sheng had already chosen Wang Kai.
The reason they were brought to see Guan Shengbai was merely to give Chen Bing face and go through the motions.
But who would have thought that this unknown kid would have such solid acting skills...
No, it's not just about the delivery of lines.
When those words came out of his mouth, everyone forgot that they were at a dinner table and that the person standing in front of them was just a young actor auditioning for a role.
They only saw Fang Mengwei.
That angry, resentful boy, pushed to the edge of a cliff.
Even Wang Kai, who was standing to the side, had his hand holding a wine glass suspended in mid-air, forgetting to put it down for a long time, and it was unclear what he was thinking.
"I'm sorry, I made a fool of myself. I was really drunk and I've been thinking about this character a lot lately, so I was a bit too eager to show off."
Guan Shengbai sat down again as if nothing had happened, appearing extremely calm, even revealing that he was doing it all for the sake of "showing off".
Kong Sheng and Li Xue exchanged a glance.
The two directors have collaborated for many years, and they can communicate countless messages with just a glance.
Li Xue saw a glint in Kong Sheng's eyes, the same look he had whenever he discovered a promising talent.
But in the end, he didn't say anything. He just picked up his wine glass and chuckled as he steered the conversation back to the food and drinks.
"It's normal for young people to be ambitious."
"Come on, try this braised pork intestine! It won't taste good when it's cold!"
The glasses clinked again, and the atmosphere at the table gradually returned to its lively state.
But everyone knew the truth.
The silence of those few minutes had subtly shifted the course of the dinner.
After a few drinks, Chen Bing became more talkative.
Somehow, the conversation turned to Guan Shengbai's family affairs.
"That kid's just unlucky."
Chen Bing sighed and put his wine glass on the table. "When I was a sophomore, my parents were in a car accident. Without saying a word, I took a leave of absence to go home and take care of them."
In the end... they still couldn't keep him.
He had already been cast as the male lead in director Zhang Yimou's "Under the Hawthorn Tree," but this delay... Alas, things don't always go as planned.
Representatives from several production companies sighed in dismay. One of them raised his glass to Guan Shengbai and said some polite words like "He will surely have good fortune in the future."
Guan Shengbai simply smiled, raised his glass in return, and didn't say anything more.
Wang Kai looked up and glanced at Guan Shengbai.
His gaze lingered on Guan Shengbai's face for a moment, then he lowered his head, picked up the wine glass in front of him, and downed it in one gulp.
Guan Shengbai noticed it.
Of course he knew what Wang Kai was thinking.
This man, who later became a top star, had already been working in the industry for six or seven years. He had played effeminate stylists and minor supporting roles without even a name. He was so unknown that even his old classmates might not recognize him.
Seeing Guan Shengbai's wasted years, he was probably reminded of his own situation.
After several rounds of drinks, everyone had drunk a bit too much.
Guan Shengbai's face had a rosier glow, but his eyes remained clear and bright.
Meanwhile, Wang Kai silently drank and ate, and although his alcohol tolerance was average, he gritted his teeth and persevered without collapsing.
Kong Sheng, on the other hand, this burly man from Shandong had drunk a bit more than his reputation suggested today, and was already somewhat tipsy.
He put down his chopsticks, took a wet wipe to clean his hands, and reached for the unopened bottle of Langyatai next to him.
"Old Kong, that's about enough."
Li Xue reached out and pressed down on the wine bottle, "Everyone has had enough to drink."
Kong Sheng stared blankly, as if he had heard a joke, and waved his hand: "What do you mean, 'drink enough'? I haven't even started yet!"
He broke free from Li Xue's hand, slammed the wine bottle on the table with a "bang," and then pulled out two large glasses from somewhere, placing them in front of Guan Shengbai and Wang Kai.
That cup was quite large; when filled to the brim, it would weigh at least two ounces.
Kong Sheng personally unscrewed the bottle cap and filled both cups to the brim.
The wine swirled around the rim of the glass, almost overflowing.
Chen Bing's expression changed immediately.
He had already drunk quite a bit, but at this moment he felt as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water. His eyes suddenly turned to Li Xue, and he kept giving him meaningful glances.
Li Xue also looked troubled and whispered, "Old Kong, that's enough, don't—"
"What do you mean, almost done?"
Kong Sheng slammed the wine bottle on the table, his voice rising several decibels, "This wine is for you two young men, why are you stopping me?"
This is asking the impossible.
Or perhaps, this is the problematic aspect of drinking culture.
A kind of "PUA" that is almost ingrained in our bones, or obedience training.
The atmosphere suddenly became awkward.
Wang Kai looked at the full glass of wine in front of him, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.
He's not a big drinker to begin with, and he's already had quite a bit tonight. He probably won't be able to handle this one.
But he hesitated for only a second.
The next second, he reached out, picked up his wine glass, stood up, and respectfully raised it to Kong Sheng.
"Director Kong, thank you for giving me this opportunity."
After saying that, he tilted his head back and gulped down the entire glass of wine.
The expression wasn't exactly one of pain, but it certainly wasn't one of enjoyment either.
After finishing his drink, Wang Kai's face turned bright red. His throat churned a few times, but he forced himself to swallow the urge before putting the empty glass back on the table.
A satisfied smile finally appeared on Kong Sheng's face.
Then everyone's eyes turned to Guan Shengbai.
He was still sitting there.
The full glass of wine was left untouched in front of him, untouched.
Chen Bing opened his mouth, wanting to say something to smooth things over, but was stopped by a look from Guan Shengbai.
The silence lasted for a full three seconds.
Then Guan Shengbai stretched out his hand.
Instead of touching the glass of wine, he took three empty glasses from the pile of unused new glasses, lined them up, and placed them in front of him.
Then he picked up the bottle of Langyatai that Kong Sheng had just put down and filled it to the brim one by one.
Three glasses of wine were neatly arranged on the table.
The light shone through the glass, making the amber-colored liquor appear translucent.
Everyone at the table looked at him with puzzlement.
Even Wang Kai was wondering what this person was up to.
He had already downed his drink first; if he drank it now, he would be at a disadvantage no matter what.
Is he trying to force himself to drink three cups to outdo himself?
Isn't that just kids playing house?
Just then, Guan Shengbai picked up the first glass of wine.
"This toast is to Director Kong, Director Li, and all the seniors present."
His voice was steady and clear, without a trace of drunkenness. "I am deeply grateful to everyone for taking time out of your busy schedules to have this meal and give me, a junior, the opportunity to meet you."
After saying that, he tilted his head back and drank it all.
The fiery liquor poured down my throat, like a bucket of burning coals being poured into my chest.
Guan Shengbai's face flushed even more, but his hands remained steady as he put down the first empty cup and picked up the second one.
"This toast is to my teacher, Professor Chen Bing."
His gaze shifted to Chen Bing, and his voice carried a touch of genuine warmth.
"You cherish me, love me, and treat your students like your own sons."
They went to great lengths to help me, even at the cost of my pride, so that I could succeed as an actor. I will remember this kindness for the rest of my life.
He tilted his head back again, and the second cup was empty.
After downing two glasses of strong liquor, Guan Shengbai's eyes began to redden, and the color in his face almost seeped out from under his skin.
But he still steadily picked up the third cup.
"This toast is still to Director Kong."
He stood ramrod straight, holding his wine glass, and met Kong Sheng's bleary, drunken eyes.
"I have read all of your works, from 'Crossing the Guandong' to 'Life and Death Line', from 'The Age of Steel' to 'The Family of Wenzhou'."
I have always held you in high esteem, and it is my good fortune, Guan Shengbai, to be able to sit at the same table and drink with you today.
His voice paused, then suddenly became slow and solemn.
"I know this might be a test, and I know it might be a senior being strict with a junior. I know all of that. But—"
"I still believe, and hope, that respect is mutual."
The moment those words were spoken, the table fell silent. The smiles on the faces of the representatives from the production companies froze, and their hands, holding teacups, stood frozen in mid-air, hesitant to move.
Even Li Xue, who was sitting in the second seat and had always been calm, slightly changed his expression.
Chen Bing was so anxious that he kept giving him meaningful glances, wishing he could go up and cover the boy's mouth.
Guan Shengbai acted as if he hadn't seen anything, simply raising his glass and saying his last words, word by word: "This third glass is for Director Kong. I hope you can forgive my offense at this moment."
After saying that, he tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.
Perhaps it was because my wrist started to tremble after drinking three glasses of strong liquor, or perhaps it was because I really couldn't control the force when I put the glass down.
The cup hit the edge of the table and fell to the ground with a "crack," shattering into pieces.
The shards of glass shimmered under the light, making his statement seem "resolute" in a physical sense.
Chen Bing's face was so ugly it looked like ink was about to drip from it.
He subconsciously reached out and patted Guan Shengbai on the shoulder, his voice trembling.
"I'm sorry, Lao Kong, Xiao Bai has had too much to drink. He's young and impetuous and doesn't know any better..."
Kong Sheng's face was expressionless.
There was neither anger nor appreciation, and even the dazed, drunken state from before was gone.
He just sat there, staring at Guan Shengbai without saying a word, his eyes frighteningly clear, not at all like someone who had drunk too much.
This young man is finished.
This thought crossed the minds of everyone at the table.
The silence lasted for a good ten seconds. Every second felt like a tug-of-war in everyone's hearts.
"If you've had too much to drink, go wash your face."
Kong Sheng's voice finally rang out, rough and unreadable: "Stop talking nonsense."
Guan Shengbai stared at him for a moment, then nodded.
"it is good."
He turned and walked towards the door, his steps relatively steady.
But a closer look reveals that his steps are slightly unsteady, a result of the lingering effects of the strong liquor churning in his body.
Just as he reached the door and placed his hand on the doorknob, he heard Kong Sheng's rough Shandong accent behind him.
The voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear.
"After washing my face and feeling refreshed, I went to settle the bill."
Guan Shengbai's tense body suddenly relaxed.
That's it.