preface
Back then, Hou Yaowen accepted Guo Degang as an apprentice, which was once considered a major event in the cross talk industry.
However, over time, this decision has gradually been labeled as "the biggest failure of life".
What kind of twists and turns are hidden in this? Why did Hou Yaowen's careful cultivation fail to achieve the expected results? Why did Guo Degang's rapid rise in the cross talk industry become a turning point in the relationship between the two?
The inheritance and transformation of the cross talk industry
In the field of traditional Chinese art, cross talk has always occupied an important position.
It is not only a form of entertainment, but also an important carrier of cultural inheritance.
However, with the changes of the times, the cross talk industry is also facing the collision of tradition and innovation.
In this context, Hou Yaowen, as a leader in the cross talk industry, has been committed to promoting the development of cross talk art.
His talent and character have made him highly respected in the industry, and he has also attracted many young people to apprentice.
Controversial Confession: A fateful decision
In the early 2000s, the cross talk industry ushered in a controversial figure - Guo Degang.
At that time, Guo Degang was already famous, but his style of acting caused a lot of controversy.
He was originally Yang Zhigang's apprentice, but he had conflicts with his teacher for various reasons.
At this critical moment, Hou Yaowen made a decision that surprised many people: to accept Guo Degang as an apprentice.
This decision was not only opposed by many friends and apprentices around Hou Yaowen, but also caused widespread controversy in the cross talk industry.
Turmoil under the door: subtle changes in the master-apprentice relationship
After Guo Degang became Hou Yaowen's apprentice, his talent was further displayed.
However, as time went on, the relationship between the two did not seem to be as harmonious as the outside world expected.
It is rumored that Guo Degang did not really get Hou Yaowen's personal inheritance, but used Hou Yaowen's reputation to strengthen himself.
This subtle change in the relationship laid the groundwork for all kinds of disputes in the future.
Superstar Fall: A Prologue to Strife
In 2007, Hou Yaowen died of illness at the age of 59.
His death is not only a major loss to the cross talk industry, but also a fuse for a series of disputes.
Shortly after Hou Yaowen's death, some surprising news began to circulate.
One of the most striking is the controversy over Hou Yaowen's legacy.
It has been reported that Hou Yaowen had a large number of precious calligraphy and paintings, jewelry and jade, as well as tens of millions of yuan in savings during his lifetime.
The source of this information is said to be Guo Degang.
Family strife: A decade-long turmoil
The issue of Hou Yaowen's inheritance quickly turned into a family dispute.
One side is Hou Yaowen's ex-wife and children, and the other side is Hou Yaowen's brother Hou Yaohua.
The controversy is not only unfolding in court, but also continues to ferment in the public eye.
Hou Yaohua is accused of trying to embezzle his brother's inheritance, an accusation that has caused him huge reputational damage.
For ten years, Hou Yaohua had to face doubts and attacks from all sides, which was undoubtedly a huge blow to an old man who was too old.
The Disclosure of Intimate Stories: Art or Betrayal?
What's even more shocking is that Guo Degang began to disclose some of Hou Yaowen's private past in cross talk performances.
He used humor and humor to tell Hou Yaowen's failed marriage and being cuckolded, which should have been private, but became the talk of the public after dinner.
This behavior has sparked strong controversy.
Some people think that this is the freedom of artistic creation, but many more think that it is disrespectful and betrayal of the teacher.
Chain Reaction: Wider Implications
Hou Yaowen's decision to accept Guo Degang not only affected the Hou family, but also caused waves in the entire cross talk industry.
First of all, it shook the strict master-apprentice inheritance system in the cross talk industry.
Guo Degang's "job-hopping" behavior was seen by some as a challenge to tradition and sparked a discussion about the inheritance of cross talk.
Secondly, Hou Yaowen's other apprentices and friends were also implicated.
Especially Chen Hanbo and Li Jindou, they were fiercely attacked by Deyun Club fans because they opposed Hou Yaowen's acceptance of Guo Degang as an apprentice.
This kind of online violence has caused them a huge psychological pressure.
Time has passed: the controversy remains
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, it has been more than 15 years since Hou Yaowen died.
However, this past incident still sparks heated discussions in the cross talk community and the public.
In 2024, Hou Yaohua said in a live broadcast that he would "clean up the door" for his deceased brother and cut off relations with some disloyal apprentices.
This remark once again focused people's attention on the master-apprentice relationship between Hou Yaowen and Guo Degang.
Reflection and enlightenment
Looking back on this period of history, we can't help but ask: Was Hou Yaowen's original decision really a mistake? Perhaps, under the circumstances at the time, Hou Yaowen made this decision out of kindness and love for the art of cross talk.
However, kindness does not always lead to good results.
The lesson of this story is that we need to be more deliberate when making big decisions, not only in terms of immediate impact, but also about the long-term consequences that may be.
At the same time, it reminds us that finding a balance between tradition and innovation is an extremely difficult but necessary task.
epilogue
Hou Yaowen's decision to accept Guo Degang as an apprentice is the biggest failure in his life, or has it injected new vitality into the cross talk industry? There may never be a standard answer to this question.
But what is certain is that the chain reaction triggered by this decision has profoundly affected the pattern of the cross talk world, and also made us think more deeply about issues such as artistic inheritance, master-apprentice relationship, and family disputes.
Today, the story continues.
We hope that with the passage of time, people will be able to look at this history with a more rational and objective attitude, draw valuable experience and lessons from it, and promote the healthy development of cross talk art.
After all, in the long history of art, every decision and every controversy can become the driving force for development.
It is with awe and anticipation that we continue to follow this unfinished story.