Chapter 439 No One Sleeps Tonight 4

The night was getting deeper.

It was already 11 o'clock, and the streets and alleys of Beijing were quiet and empty. Except for employees in special positions, everyone stayed at home to celebrate the New Year.

A car rushed back from CCTV, drove into the alley of Beida Street, and stopped in front of the courtyard gate. The secretary hurried in and went into the living room in the backyard: "Report! It's back!"

"So fast?"

"They have a ready-made tape!"

The big leader took the tape and looked at it, and smiled: "Okay, after watching the evening show, we will learn it together."

"I conveyed your meaning, most people have no problem, but Minister Zhu said that Comrade Chen Qi and Comrade Gong Xue will fly to Berlin on the first day of the New Year to participate in a film festival."

"Life is Beautiful? I know."

The big leader nodded, indicating that he understood the matter.

The secretary went out again to arrange a meeting for tomorrow.

These days, people in the literary and art circles have a good chance to meet central-level leaders. For example, Yuan Kuocheng, Liu Lanfang, etc. were invited to spend the Spring Festival in Haizili on the first day of the New Year in 1984.

"Wow!!!"

At this moment, the granddaughter and grandson suddenly shouted, staring at the TV intently.

On the stage, smoke was seen, Li Lianjie and Moon Lee were dressed in ancient costumes, each holding a sword, flying out from both sides, fighting a few moves in the air, and then landing steadily on the two scenery bridges.

"..."

The big leader frowned slightly, not liking this performance very much, but it was harmless to think that the New Year was for excitement, at least the masses would definitely like it.

...

"Wow!"

"Fuck... Um!"

Sure enough, the studio was already high.

Although the stage was small, the two only flew a short distance, and the height was not high, but it was flying after all! What's more, the action design was also wonderful. The two of them went back and forth, and Moon Lee, a little girl, was very beautiful when she performed routines.

She was dressed in green, like Ah Qing in "The Sword of Yue Girl".

In order to create an atmosphere, a little dry ice was added. At that time, there was no dry ice machine, so we could only shake the dry ice bottle manually. We couldn't put too much, otherwise it would not dissipate in a short time, and it was easy to lack oxygen in the room.

A little smoke is enough.

This program is quite popular, and the people love it and shout loudly.

Immediately afterwards, while the smoke had not dissipated, the crew of "Journey to the West" appeared on the stage, including Tang Monk Wang Yue, Teacher Liu, Ma Dehua, Yan Huaili and Yang Jie. "Journey to the West" has already aired a pilot episode "Exorcising the Black Chicken Kingdom". Yang Jie introduced the progress and announced that "Stealing Ginseng Fruit" would be broadcast on the second day of the Chinese New Year.

Chen Qi had a bad taste and added a small link.

"This is the actor of Zhu Bajie, Ma Dehua!"

"Oh, your name is Dehua too? Come on..."

Ma Ji led Zhu Bajie to the stage and pointed at Liu Dehua and said, "We Hong Kong compatriots also have a Dehua, you guys should get to know him!"

"Hahaha!"

The whole audience burst into laughter.

"Hello, hello!"

Liu Dehua stood up and was very curious about Zhu Bajie's makeup. He shook hands with him and left a historic moment.

"If this is released in the future, I will become a god!"

Chen Qi twistedly complained in a dark corner. He deliberately created the gold content of this Spring Festival Gala. He wanted to be the founder of the world for future generations to worship!

He didn't interfere much in "Journey to the West", just punched in.

He wrote a script "Fun Journey to the Kingdom of Women" and planned to let Gong Xue make a guest appearance as Tang Monk's mother. It is not a loss of face to make a guest appearance in "Journey to the West", but a good story.

Sun Wukong still found Teacher Liu.

How good is Teacher Liu? It depends on one's opinion, but he is good at playing monkeys. He performed a stick-playing and stick-standing performance on the spot!

…………

Unconsciously, the party started at 8 o'clock and has been going on for more than 3 hours.

People can't stay excited for a long time. Basically, they are a little tired at this point.

When Zhao Benshan was at his most glorious, CCTV would put his skits at the back of the schedule, as the last language program before midnight. One is to tie the audience and stabilize the ratings, and the other is the sense of rhythm.

When everyone is a little tired, click and come up with another climax.

Chen Qi did the same, he arranged several rhythm points, and "Eating Noodles" enjoyed the same treatment.

"It's our movie actors' turn to perform. Please enjoy their skits..."

"Wait! Wait, don't start yet!"

Gong Xue pretended to announce the show, but was actually following the procedure. Zhu Shimao came up with a big bowl and a red plastic bucket and said, "Our actors haven't arrived yet!"

"Ah? What should we do?"

"Can we postpone the order of the program?"

"Then the program will be messed up!"

"How about you help me out and act?"

"I can't act!"

"Look at what you said. If you act, our work will definitely be popular all over the country..."

Zhu Shimao kept inviting Gong Xue, but Gong Xue refused. At this moment, a lazy and somewhat shameless voice that sounded like a backward youth interrupted:

"Hey, Master? Master?"

"What are we short of actors here?"

The camera turned and aimed at a creature.

He wore a woolen hat and a jacket that was one size too big, with sleeves that could cover his hands, and his pants were one size too big, loose and big, and he looked sloppy... Looking at his face, he had short eyebrows, small eyes, a big nose, a round head, and a scoundrel look.

What kind of gangster, illegal vendor, petty thief, a person that only appears once in thousands of years!

The first two skits, "Eating Chicken" had no lines and was considered a pantomime; "Zhang San" was full of satire, with good content but not enough laughs; only "Eating Noodles" was the purest comedy skit.

"Speak! Speak! Say the words!"

"Say the words!"

"Uh - I don't feel it!"

"Stop! What do you mean you don't feel anything? What do you mean you don't feel anything?"

"Hahahaha!"

The guests on the same stage had seen them rehearse, but the audience hadn't. They were laughing so hard that they were rolling on the floor. This wasn't canned laughter, or the assistant director directing from the side. It was completely heartfelt happiness!

"Speak! Speak the lines!"

"I told you to speak the lines... Stop! Stop!"

"Director, are you still eating? That's enough!"

"Serve the noodles, serve the noodles, serve the noodles!"

"Haha, this makes me laugh, these two are so funny!"

"Call your dad in, don't set off the firecrackers yet! Set them off after you finish watching! Oh, look at him like that..."

The audience in front of the TV was a little tired or sleepy, and they were suddenly refreshed by this skit.

On the stage, Chen Xiaoer had already eaten several bowls of food, his eyes widened: "How can I eat this? No, no, I can't squat anymore!"

"Bring him a chair!"

"Speak the lines! Speak the lines!"

"Why are you in such a hurry... burp!"

The cast and crew laughed along, even though they had watched several rehearsals, and at the same time they felt a great sense of accomplishment: they really brought joy to everyone and made laughter spread across the country!

Wang Enfa, the actor coordinator, sat in a corner, his eyes looking elsewhere. His mental journey was clearly divided into three stages: he accepted his bad luck and suffered, the subsidy stimulated his enthusiasm, and now, there are only two words left:

Glory!

The 20 people at CCTV are not fools. At this point, they all know that their names will be recorded in the history of Chinese radio and television with this gala.

Just as they were full of passion and ready to welcome the final stage of the gala... Huang Yihe looked at his watch and hurriedly found Chen Qi: "Timeout! Timeout!"

"How much?"

"At least 2 minutes!"

"Tsk! The effect is so good!"

Chen Qi watched the end of the performance, bowed on the stage to thank Zhu Shimao and Chen Peisi, who were enjoying the applause, and fully felt the various uncertainties that can be faced in controlling a gala.

The response to "Eating Noodles" was too enthusiastic.

For example, when a joke sounded, the audience laughed, and the two had to let the laughter pass, and then say the lines. And because the atmosphere was so good, the two of them performed very relaxed. Even if they added a line on the spot, it would extend the overall time.

Chen Qi looked at the program list.

There are two more songs, and then it will be midnight.

"There must be not enough time. What should we do if we can't finish singing the second song?" Huang Yihe asked.

"Put it after midnight!"

"Then there will be a blank period?"

"Delay the length of time!"

Chen Qi immediately found Zhao Zhongxiang and Gong Xue and talked about this and that.

Soon, the song was finished.

Prepare to welcome midnight.

Until this moment, the much-watched women's volleyball players finally appeared.

In 1981, the Chinese women's volleyball team defeated Japan with a 7-game winning streak and won the first world championship in the three major balls. In 1982, the Chinese women's volleyball team won the world championship again!

This was the beginning of the heyday of the women's volleyball team, until five consecutive championships.

Sun Jinfang, Zhang Rongfang, Lang Ping and other players stood on the stage and received the warmest applause of the evening. Why is the women's volleyball championship an indispensable node when people recall the 1980s?

Because when national self-confidence is low, competitive sports are the most inspiring.

"Wow!"

After a long time, the applause subsided. Ma Ji and Jiang Kun's style was not suitable for this part. Zhao Zhongxiang came in person and deliberately hesitated for a while. Gong Xue appeared with a palm-sized red button.

"We have a celebration ceremony, and the switch is this button."

"We will ask our women's volleyball girls to press the button in the same way as playing volleyball."

"What if they miss?"

"Then our celebration will be over."

"Oh, you're doubling my stress!"

Lang Ping was born in Tianjin and studied in Beijing since she was a child. She speaks in a Beijing accent and spins a volleyball in her hand, saying, "Let's just play, right?"

"Then you have to use your signature skill, how about a spike?" Gong Xue said with a smile.

"Okay, you have to put it on the ground."

Gong Xue took the switch and walked farther and farther away, one step at a time. Zhao Zhongxiang was anxious: "Comrade Gong Xue, come back a little!"

"It's okay, put it there!"

So, the switch was placed on this side, and the women's volleyball girls stood on the other side, across the stage.

Chen Qi kept looking at his watch.

Huang Yihe was sweating.

This is a small part. The stage is already filled with colorful ribbons and sequins. The switch is controlled separately. Even if you can't hit the button, it's okay - of course Lang Ping will definitely hit it.

The women's volleyball girls also knew the process in advance.

After pretending to study for a few sentences, they decided that Zhang Rongfang would serve, Sun Jinfang would pass, and Lang Ping would smash.

"Let's try it first?"

The three tried it once, and Lang Ping smashed it with a bang. The volleyball hit the switch and hit the stage, but it didn't hit!

"It's almost too late!"

Chen Qi continued to look at the watch, ran directly to the audience, stood where the camera couldn't shoot, and gestured to the stage, which meant: Don't dawdle, hurry up!

Gong Xue immediately picked up the ball and ran to hand it to Zhang Rongfang: "Then let's officially start!"

Zhang Rongfang understood. In the previous rehearsal, as long as the official start was said, the countdown would begin. Sure enough, Zhao Zhongxiang said: "At this moment, we are about to usher in the new year. There is still a period of time. Let's count down together..."

"10, 9, 8!"

The audience began to count down.

"5, 4, 3!"

With the counting, Zhang Rongfang served the ball, Sun Jinfang got ready, and passed the ball to Lang Ping. Lang Ping jumped up, just like she smashed the Japanese in the final, waving her arms and making a beautiful smash.

Ouch!

Because it didn't hit the target just now, everyone's heart was lifted, whether inside or outside the court, staring at the volleyball without blinking.

There was a bang!

The volleyball hit the switch accurately. Maybe it was the sound of the ball hitting the ground, or the sound of the balloon bursting. With a bang, countless ribbons and sequins prepared above the stage fell down and drifted like rain.

In the joyous atmosphere, accompanied by a heavy bell sound, all the dancers came on stage together, surging from the left and right sides. Ma Ji and Jiang Kun also came on stage and stood in a row.

"The past is thousands of years old, and the grandeur is seen today!"

"We use sweat to water the harvest and work hard to move forward!"

"Listen, that is the bell of the new year. We bid farewell to 1982 and usher in 1983!"

"Everyone~ Happy New Year!"

"Ding!"

"Ding!"

"Ding!"

A distant bell sound echoed on the scene and in the TV. This is the sound made in the later stage.

Then, the picture switched to the bell tower of Tanzhe Temple in the suburbs of Beijing.

Chen Qi decided to ring the bell at midnight and looked everywhere. The bell and drum tower in the capital had been in disrepair for a long time and could not be rung. He went to Guangji Temple, Lama Temple, and White Pagoda Temple. Finally, he found Tanzhe Temple, which had a bronze bell from the Qianlong period.

Zhao Zhongxiang, Gong Xue, Lang Ping, Liu Dehua, Zhong Chuhong, and Zhang Mingmin were seen holding a 30-kilogram wooden hammer and striking the bell one by one.

Of course, this is just a picture, not a sound.

Among these people, Zhao Zhongxiang represents CCTV, or the official, Gong Xue represents the mainland literary and art circles, Lang Ping represents the sports world, and the others are Hong Kong compatriots. Everyone works together...

So some leaders sighed that if they could see Taiwan compatriots and overseas Chinese ringing the bell together, they would die without regrets!

The bell ringing at midnight in the Spring Festival Gala in later generations began in 1983.

Chen Qi added some tricks to make the process more eye-catching. The distant and heavy sounds came from the TV, as if they spread all over the country.

"..."

In the courtyard, the big leader slowly leaned back on the sofa and felt a little tired.

He wanted to give himself a short holiday on New Year's Eve, but ended up watching four hours of TV. He knew there were more programs to come, but it didn't matter anymore. So far, the whole Spring Festival Gala was like a picture scroll that slowly unfolded and slowly closed, showing a variety of colors, songs and laughter.

And it was not just joy, there were also places that moved, and places where the artistic conception was sublimated...

Now it is coming to an end, and with the sound of the bells, it makes people linger.

"No one will sleep tonight!"

(No more...)