Episode Summary
In this episode, the play "Yi Nian Jian" overcomes production hurdles involving extras and set design. After a slow opening night, powerful word-of-mouth turns it into a cultural phenomenon. A conflict between director Jiao Juyin and producer Xia Yan over promotion is resolved when a second, sold-out performance earns a historic standing ovation. On a personal note, Han Dayong and Ren Suning share a difficult farewell before he departs for the war.
Spoiler Alert
Getting the Play on Its Feet
A Director and His Vision
Jiao Juyin is the real deal as a director. He doesn't just tell actors where to stand. He digs deep into the script. He explains every character's inner thoughts and what they're reallysaying. This helps the cast connect with their roles fast. The rehearsals are intense and emotional because of it.
But they had a problem. They needed more people on stage for crowd scenes. Li Kenong heard about the issue. He quickly found a solution. He just organized some soldiers with downtime to act as extras. Simple as that.
Building a World on a Budget
With the extras sorted, a new issue popped up. The stage background was completely bare. It was just a dull, flat space. It did nothing to create a mood or a sense of place. Jiao Juyin is a perfectionist. He could not tolerate it.
He reported the problem, but there was no money. The budget was stretched thin. There wasn't a single spare cent for set design. Just when it seemed hopeless, Xia Yan showed up with a solution. He brought some friends with him. These friends were famous artists like Feng Zikai, Ye Qianyu, and Zhang Leping. These masters offered to create the entire stage background. They did it all for free. Xia Yan introduced them to Jiao Juyin, they all talked about the vision, and suddenly, the play had a beautiful set.
Opening Night Jitters
A Slow Start
After a whole year of preparation, the play finally premiered. You'd think there would be a line out the door. There wasn't. Ticket sales were worryingly low. Xia Yan started to get really nervous. He was afraid all their hard work would end in disappointment. Li Kenong told him not to lose hope. He said the play didn't need to be a blockbuster on day one. Its real job was to inspire the people's will to fight. If it did that, it was a success.
Word-of-Mouth Works Wonders
Then the show began. It was an absolute sensation. The audience was stunned by the stage effects. The story felt real and hit close to home. It was so moving that many people in the crowd cried.
The word-of-mouth effect was immediate and powerful. People who saw it couldn't stop talking about how good it was. Soon, more and more people were buying tickets. A lot of the original audience members even bought tickets to see it a second time.
Backstage Drama and a Big Break
A Tense Celebration
Xia Yan wanted to celebrate with the cast and crew. He organized a dinner for everyone who worked so hard. He went to invite Director Jiao Juyin personally. But Jiao refused to go to the team-building event.
He was still upset about the weak opening. He told Xia Yan the poor ticket sales were his fault. He said Xia Yan failed to do his job promoting the play. Jiao stayed home. Xia Yan had to do some self-reflection. He admitted the director was right. He hadn't reached out to local writers or scholars to help build buzz. He immediately started working to fix that mistake.
Good News from the Top
Then, they got a telegram from Zhou Enlai in Chongqing. He sent his congratulations on the successful premiere. He also announced that in two days, the play would have another run. Tickets would be sold in both Guilin and Chongqing at the same time. This news gave everyone a massive confidence boost.
A Historic Success
The Second Showing
The second performance was a completely different scene. Bai Chongxi, a high-ranking official, came to see the show. He brought a group of local leaders and intellectuals with him. The public was buzzing. Everyone was talking about how amazing the play was. The theater was packed. They sold so many tickets that they even started selling standing-room-only spots. Xia Yan ran to tell Jiao Juyin the news. The two creators were so thrilled they just hugged each other.
A Standing Ovation for the Ages
After the performance ended, the audience jumped to their feet. They gave a spontaneous and thunderous round of applause that seemed to last forever. This was apparently unheard of in Chinese theater history. It was a genuine thank you from the audience to the creators. The play, titled "Yi Nian Jian," used art as a weapon. It had a huge impact on the people in two cities and became a legendary chapter in Chinese drama.
A Quiet Goodbye
The episode also gives us a short, quiet moment with Han Dayong. He is about to leave for the front lines. He meets with Ren Suning to say goodbye. The feelings between them are obvious. You can see it in their eyes. But with the war and the country in crisis, they have to put it all aside. They both suppress their emotions once again.
