During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, in the Beijing Dong'an Market Auspicious Theater, the famous people on stage sang opera, the audience applauded, a lively scene, just when the opera entered the climax, only heard a "pop", a bald head under the stage, wearing myopic glasses, obese people fell in response.
When people came up to check, it turned out to be a doctor surnamed Guan, who had not done anything to commit adultery, and when they encountered such an unfortunate thing, everyone sighed.
But it soon became apparent that the gunshots were not out of the ordinary, and the police surrounded the entire theater and took everyone away.
It turned out that the original seat was not sitting on Dr. Guan, but miao bin, a traitor, who was now going north to serve as a member of the Jicha Political Affairs Committee.
At that time, the Chinese people hated the traitors to the bone, and the reason why Miao Bin took the risk to come to the theater was not to listen to the play, but to sing the opera. Everyone suddenly realized that among the famous singers of today's opera, there is a woman who is very popular and is called "Chairman Kunling", and she is xin Yanqiu, one of the four kundans.
It turned out that just when Miao Bin was fascinated, he found that his wife had come to the theater to listen to the play, and in order to avoid being found out by his wife that he was also here, Miao Bin secretly left.
At this time, Dr. Guan was anxious to find a seat, and suddenly found that there was a seat vacant in the crowd, very happy, and quickly sat down to enjoy the drama, but he did not expect this sitting, so he caused trouble.
Dr. Guan is no different from Miao Bin in terms of appearance or length, the same baldness, the same extra flesh, if it is not a familiar person, it is difficult to identify at a glance, those assassins in order to be able to successfully assassinate Miao Bin, did not think too much, did not expect to eventually become Miao Bin's substitute ghost.
At this time, Xin Yanqiu was Miao Bin's lover, but after this incident, Miao Bin disregarded his past feelings and suspected that Xin Yanqiu was colluding with thieves, and even arrested her and imprisoned her.
A generation of celebrities, unlimited scenery, but behind this, the life of Xinyan Qiu is not happy.
In 1910, when Manchu Qing rule was crumbling and the people of Beijing were in a panic, a baby girl was born in the home of Wang Haishan, a Peking Opera lover, who named her Wang Yuhua.
At this time, Wang Haishan did not expect that his daughter would use the name of Xin Yanqiu to sing the name of the red river in the future.
When he was young, Xin Yanqiu wanted to worship Cheng Yanqiu as a teacher with the support of the opera theorist Qi Rushan, but Cheng Yanqiu could not bear the rumors brought by the outside world that he had an improper relationship with female disciples, and rejected Xin Yanqiu.
And this time the refusal actually made the two have a lifelong connection.
Later, Qi Rushan introduced Xin Yanqiu to Mei Lanfang, although he knew that Xin Yanqiu was not interested in Mei Pai singing, but if there was no high-ranking person in the opera world, even if he had great ability, it would be difficult to be popular.
Although Xin Yanqiu was young, but had been in the opera circle for many years, she naturally understood the meaning of Qi Rushan, so she looked at Mei Lanfang's residence and finally became Mei Lanfang's first female disciple, and her popularity continued to increase.
But Xin Yanqiu is still in love with Cheng Pai's singing style. Xin Yanqiu thought, since Teacher Cheng was not willing to accept me as a disciple, then I would "steal" the study.
In the old society, stealing teachers was a big taboo, so Xin Yanqiu dressed as a woman, while worrying about being afraid of being discovered, while also concentrating on learning drama.
Over the past few years, Xin Yanqiu has really learned all of Cheng Pai's early repertoire, and since then, her popularity in the opera industry has become uncontrollable, and her reputation has soared to the four famous dans.
In 1930, Xin Yanqiu knew that she was now skilled in Cheng Pai's singing method, and in the entire opera world, except for Cheng Yanqiu himself, I am afraid that no one can compare with her. So he raised the banner of "Cheng Pai" and began to sing Cheng Pai opera in the theater, attracting audiences who were interested in Cheng Pai singing, and formed a commercial confrontation with Cheng Yanqiu.
As Xin Yanqiu herself said, "This behavior is sorry for Mr. Cheng, but for the sake of red, in order to stand on the stage, it must be done." ”
It turns out that Xin Yanqiu is not only talented in singing, but also scheming. In order to be able to stand out, she planned the sensational "Naruto and Society Defection" incident.
Xin Yanqiu played two cards, first of all, she used heavy gold to poach the xiaosheng in Cheng Yanqiu's "Minghe Society" drama team.
In theatrical singing, in order to achieve a good effect, it must be a combination of sheng dan, but now Cheng Yanqiu's small life has been poached, and Cheng Yanqiu cannot sing for a short time;
Immediately after Xin Yanqiu played the second card, he threw money again, pulling the people who had worked with Cheng Yanqiu into his own drama class, in addition to encouraging them to take away the script in the drama class, cutting off Cheng Yanqiu's back road.
Cheng Yanqiu, who was inspecting Europe, was furious when he learned of this, but he had no power to return to heaven.
In 1933, after Cheng Yanqiu returned to China, it took a year to reorganize the drama club, and the vitality was truly restored. After a series of operations, Cheng Yanqiu can be described as a household name and his fame is rising day by day.
Xin Yanqiu's career is getting better and better, but there are more and more unfortunate things in life.
Xinyan Qiu was extremely popular, and naturally it was also remembered by many high-ranking politicians, and later Zeng Zhongming, a traitor of the Wang puppet regime, was one of them.
In 1930, Wang Jingwei went to Beijing to discuss the so-called "enlarged meeting" with Yan Xishan and others, and Zeng Zhongming accompanied him as Wang Jingwei's secretary.
As a popular figure in the Beijing opera industry, Xin Yanqiu naturally received Wang Jingwei and his party, and Zeng Zhongming was deeply fascinated by her when he first met Xin Yanqiu.
Zeng Zhongming lived in France when he was young, was influenced by French art and culture, and had a high vision of anything, but for Xin Yanqiu, no matter how he looked at it, it was a work of art.
That night, in order to be able to lean on the big tree of Wang Jingwei, someone in Beijing arranged for Zeng Zhongming to visit Xinyanqiu, and the relationship between the two was officially established.
In order to support his new lover, Zeng Zhongming went to the theater every day to celebrate the scene and threw thousands of dollars at all costs.
In one of the sessions, each person ordered a play, and Zeng Zhongming ordered a play of "Overlord Farewell", which was of great value to Xin Yanqiu.
First of all, "Farewell to the Overlord" is Mei Lanfang's specialty play, not Cheng Pai's specialty, and secondly, the performer of this drama Overlord is Yang Xiaolou, who was known as the "Wusheng Grandmaster" at the time, and once only performed this play with Mei Lanfang.
Zeng Zhongming's behavior meant that he was announcing to others that Xin Yanqiu and the four famous dans had the same status.
In Zeng Zhongming's pursuit and support for himself, Xin Yanqiu completely fell, but nine months later, Zeng Zhongming returned to Nanjing, and the entanglement between the two was also declared over.
A year later, the "918" incident occurred, Wang Jingwei became the chief executive, and Zeng Zhongming was promoted to deputy secretary general of the Executive Yuan.
At this time, he once again remembered Xin Yanqiu, so he sent someone to bring Xin Yanqiu from Beijing to Nanjing, and the two had an old love. And Zeng Zhongming also wanted Xin Yanqiu to be on fire in Nanjing.
Since Xin Yanqiu herself taught herself the Cheng school, and Cheng Yanqiu also sang in Nanjing as the base camp, in order to get more audiences, Xin Yanqiu had a bold idea. With the support of Zeng Zhongming, Xin Yanqiu began a tit-for-tat confrontation with Cheng Yanqiu, on the banks of the Qinhuai River, and the famous lings sang.
Of course, at this time, Xin Yanqiu was young and vigorous, and as a figure like the stars holding the moon, he would naturally think of Cheng Yanqiu's refusal to accept himself as an apprentice again, and wanted to prove himself in this way, so as to make Cheng Yanqiu regret it.
Xin Yanqiu began to fight with Cheng Yanqiu in the ring, Cheng Yanqiu sang whatever Xin Yanqiu sang, as soon as this matter was reported, coupled with Zeng Zhongming's support, Cheng Yanqiu's fame was immediately frustrated.
After the end of the show every night, Zeng Zhongming had to take Xin Yanqiu to his private house outside, and the two were entangled in pity, and Xin Yanqiu almost became Zeng Zhongming's caged sparrow.
After Xin Yanqiu returned to Beijing, he soon learned that Zeng Zhongming had found another new love, and when his heart was sad, he met Miao Bin, who had just become a member of the Jicha Political Affairs Committee, and became his lover under Miao Bin's pursuit.
However, after the shooting, Miao Bin arrested and imprisoned Xinyanqiu, who was distraught and rescued by Japanese agent Yoshiko Kawashima.
At this time, Xin Yanqiu reached the darkest moment in his life.
Yoshiko Kawashima assumes the pseudonym Jin Bihui and uses her power to save Shin Yanqiu. This kind of thing is nothing for a spy.
However, for a weak woman who sings for a living, the imprisonment is enough to remember for life, and at this time, Xin Yanqiu is cornered and has to rely on this strange "life-saving benefactor" Jin Bihui.
But this time, Xin Yanqiu was a wolf into the tiger's mouth.
Shin Yan qiu became a domestic slave in Kawashima Yoshiko's family, and a famous man in the world even wanted to give a traitor a maid.
Xin Yanqiu had to do housework and wash clothes every day, and she had never thought of running away, but no matter how big the city of Beijing was, could she escape the power of Yoshiko Kawashima?
Since she was able to rescue herself from prison, she was able to let herself in again, and she could never go back to that dark, wet and cold place, absolutely not.
Shin Yanqiu is completely at the mercy of Yoshiko Kawashima, all the money for the performance is taken away by Yoshiko Kawashima, and a company invites Shin Yanqiu to act, but also to seek her consent in advance.
In 1940, Kawashima Yoshiko let Xinyan qiu go to Shanghai to perform, and ordered 18 performances for her, but Xinyanqiu was initially cured of a serious illness, and it was difficult to withstand such a toss, and finally reduced to 10, but even so, Xinyanqiu still had old wounds and a lot of bleeding when she sang.
Those days were no freedom for Xinyanqiu.
It was not until 1945 that Yoshiko Kawashima's identity was made public and Shin Yanqiu was liberated.
However, he was taken into custody by the Nationalist government because of his intimate relationship with Yoshiko Kawashima and re-entered the prison.
It can be said that the first half of Xin Yanqiu's life was a smooth road, extremely smooth, able to get Mei Lanfang to teach skills, outstanding talent, self-taught Chengpai skills, and extremely popular.
It was also at the right time of life that I met men who changed their destiny, some who could make themselves unique, and some who let themselves go to prison and then indifference.
In short, Xin Yanqiu's life has undergone a major transformation, starting from a famous celebrity who has gone downhill.
After 1949, Xin Yanqiu's life became more and more unsatisfactory. There are undoubtedly many reasons for this, the most important of which is her problems in the industry.
In the first half of her life, Xin Yanqiu was very popular, but behind this, what she did to Cheng Yanqiu was well known to everyone.
Later, Xin Yanqiu herself admitted: "I am sorry mr. Cheng in order to be able to sing and become famous. ”
In fact, Cheng Yanqiu had already forgiven Xin Yanqiu at this time. In 1954, Xin Yanqiu and Cheng Yanqiu met in Shanghai, and when she saw the master she had once admired and hurt standing in front of her, she did not know how to open her mouth for a while.
Unexpectedly, Cheng Yanqiu came up very kindly, and had long ignored the previous suspicions, and told Xin Yanqiu that he was in the International Hotel, and if he wanted to learn, he could go to exchanges together and teach her the art of Cheng Pai.
When Xin Yanqiu heard these words, she couldn't open her mouth for a while, only tears swirled in her eyes.
However, the next day, Xin Yanqiu was told to leave Changhai to participate in the event, and this time the meeting between the two turned out to be a farewell, and four years later Cheng Yanqiu died young, and Xin Yanqiu finally failed to obtain the real Cheng Pai skills.
In 1983, in order to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Cheng Yanqiu's death, the disciples wanted to hold a performance for him, but there was a major disagreement in it, that is, whether to invite Xin Yanqiu to participate in this performance activity.
Among them, the disciples led by Li Shiji believed that they should resolutely reject Xin Yanqiu.
Li Shiji believed that Xin Yanqiu had done too many things to be sorry for the master, and absolutely could not let her defile the lintel of the Cheng Sect.
Others believe that Xin Yanqiu has been singing Cheng Pai and should also participate.
When everyone was difficult to decide, Cheng Yanqiu's wife Guo Suying said: "When Xin Yanqiu was young, she did something sorry for your master, but didn't you all pass, so don't hold on to it." Besides, as far as inheritance is concerned, your group of people is not as good as a new autumn. Invite her to come, your master doesn't care, what else are you up to?"
As soon as these words came out, everyone was silent, and finally the 73-year-old Xin Yanqiu came from Nanjing, and when Xin Yanqiu saw Guo Suying, she bowed deeply with her thin body.
Guo Suying hurried up to help, but only saw Xin Yanqiu's face full of guilt, and did not even dare to look at her.
At this time, Guo Suying said, "You are my Cheng Men disciple." ”
As soon as the words fell, the seventy-year-old Xin Yanqiu's tears dripped down, and he fell to his knees and choked up and called out "Master."
It can be seen from this that Cheng Yanqiu and his wife forgave Xin Yanqiu, but at this time, those who had influence in the opera circle were those disciples who opposed Xin Yanqiu, among whom Li Shiji had great influence, because he actively reformed the art of the Cheng School, became a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and vice chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and had great influence in both the opera and political circles, and there were fewer and fewer places where Xin Yanqiu could continue to exert his talents.
Xin Yanqiu's granddaughter recalled her grandmother's old age: "At first, there were people who came to visit her, but then there were fewer and fewer, probably thinking that my grandmother was old and useless." “
On September 2, 2008, a generation of famous people, Xinyan Qiu, drove to the west of the crane, and her funeral was very bleak, and no one came to perform for her.
After her death, people saw that she had nothing in her savings, and the only person who remembered her was her granddaughter.
Xin Yanqiu's life is like the work she is engaged in, like a big drama. In her youth, she was able to spread throughout Beijing and Nanjing, was pursued by high-powered politicians, reached a status comparable to that of the four famous Dans, and became the best inheritor of Cheng School art by herself in art, and did not receive Cheng Yanqiu's teaching until her death, which is also a regret of Xin Yanqiu's life, but fortunately, she got the understanding of Cheng Yanqiu and his wife, so that she had the opportunity to reform herself.
In the second half of her life, there is no fame and fortune, the only thing left is loneliness and helplessness, it seems to be caused by social changes, but in fact, it is the retribution for the mistakes that Xin Yanqiu herself has committed, if she gives Xin Yanqiu another chance, I am afraid that she will choose Cheng Pai art, but she will never do anything out of the ordinary, just rely on her own efforts to step by step to Cheng Yanqiu, and gradually gain his approval.
However, Xin Yanqiu's artistic achievements still cannot be ignored, and in the 9th "Cheng Yun Liufang Art Salon" sponsored by the Chinese Peking Opera Cheng Pai Art Research Association, the famous opera expert Wu Tongyu commented on Xin Yanqiu, saying that the height of Cheng Pai art she has reached has so far been unmatched. It's just such an evaluation, Xin Yanqiu can no longer hear it.