Reborn Bao Guowei, I really didn’t want to be a great writer!

Chapter 324 The drama is a big hit! A girl from a prominent family?

Just as Bao Guowei was preparing to go to Datong University to visit Mr. Zhu Kezhen, the influence of "The Shawshank Redemption" had gradually spread from Shanghai to Beijing and even abroad.

Bao Guowei had left Shanghai long ago, but his legend continued to circulate in the market for several days.

After the release of "The Shawshank Redemption", almost every show at the Golden Theatre was sold out.

Huang Jinrong originally just thought that Bao Guowei's drama could liven up the audience and bring back some topics to the already somewhat depressed Golden Theater.

After all, the war on the front line is going smoothly now, and Jinling has also relaxed its control, so the cultural circles in Shanghai can finally take a break for a while.

But who would have thought that "The Shawshank Redemption" would become such a huge hit?
It is even more popular than Bao Guowei's previous works.

Seeing that tickets to the Golden Theater were hard to come by, Huang Jinrong simply removed many of his past repertoires, even some popular Peking operas.

All the vacant screenings were reserved for "The Shawshank Redemption".

In addition, at the previous press conference, major newspapers and media outlets rushed to report on it.

Moreover, compared with novels, the threshold for appreciating drama is much lower. The play "The Shawshank Redemption" became a hot topic among all Shanghai residents for a time.

St. Mary's Girls' School, Shanghai.

This is a famous church girls' middle school.

In 1930, St. Mary's Girls' School was an aristocratic school for girls in Shanghai. Many famous ladies and movie stars in Shanghai had studied in this school.

Zhang Ying, who was eleven years old at the time, had just recently entered this girls' school. In fact, she would not be able to enter the first grade of junior high school until next year. However, after her parents agreed to divorce, her father Zhang Zhiyi rarely took care of the family.

So I used my connections to send her to a girls' school early, so that she could adapt to junior high school life in advance and meet many people of her age.

Most importantly, as the only son of Zhang Peilun, a famous official in the late Qing Dynasty, his father Zhang Zhiyi did not have to spend too much time taking care of his daughter and could continue his drunken and extravagant life as a young master.

Zhang Ying's family background is prominent, and several of his elders are famous in history.

Her grandfather was Zhang Peilun and her great-grandfather was Li Hongzhang. It was not surprising that she could enter this aristocratic girls' school.

Zhang Ying's parents' discord since childhood made him taciturn and unsociable.

So she had no objection to her father's arrangement, and instead felt very happy about it.

In fact, Zhang Ying was also lucky, because during her time at St. Mary's Girls' School, she had more time to be alone and read a wide range of literary works, both classical and foreign, which she took in completely, just like swallowing a whole apple.

While in St. Mary's Girls' School, as a teenager, she also found herself again in literature.

Zhuang Qi was Zhang Ying's only good friend in the girls' school. She was two years older than Zhang Ying, and the two of them often spent time in the library reading literary books.

They would go to bookstores outside to buy the latest newspapers and magazines and pass them around, or discuss how some senior schoolmates had recently started dating some rich boys.

On this day, as usual, Zhang Ying arrived at the library from the dormitory holding a copy of "To Live".

She is going to write a novel today.

Even though she was only eleven years old, Zhang Ying had already begun literary creation. As early as in elementary school, she used class time to write novels. Her first novel was about a family tragedy, and her second novel was about the story of a girl who committed suicide after a breakup.

These stories are exactly in line with her girlish state of mind.

The hardships in reality and the troubles of adolescence are all expressed in words.

As soon as he entered the library, Zhang Ying saw his companion Zhuang Qi in the corner.

She was wearing a floral dress today and was discussing something with others with excitement on her face.

Zhang Ying did not rush over, but sat there and wrote a novel by herself. She waited until Zhuang Qi finished talking to others before she sat over.

"Ailing, have you heard about that play? Have you bought the tickets?"

"Tickets?"

Ailing is Zhang Ying's pen name, and only close friends like Zhuang Qi know it.

"Yes! The Golden Theatre has recently added more shows for tickets to The Shawshank Redemption. Middle schools across Shanghai are rushing to get them. It is said that this play is the best. How come you didn't know about it, Ailing?"

Zhang Ying turned her head and looked around. Almost all the female students in the library were discussing among themselves. From the nearest conversations, it seemed that they were discussing the plot of "The Shawshank Redemption".

She shook her head, her eyes a little dull as she spoke. "I've been reading in the dormitory these days and rarely go out. I don't know anything about Shawshank."

Zhang Ying has always been a solitary person. The fewer people around him, the better. His only contact with the outside world is through his good friend Zhuang Qi and newspapers and magazines.

Because she didn't go out at all and ate in the cafeteria, she didn't even read newspapers or magazines these days.

Zhuang Qi shook his head helplessly.

"Ailing, this news is as rough as your hair."

Seeing the other person's messy hair, Zhuang Qi couldn't help but complain.

Zhang Ying didn't care much, she shook her head and said.

"I don't have much time to decorate the exterior. I have been studying Mr. Bingwen's works recently. His works have benefited me a lot. Today I had some inspiration and wanted to write a few thousand words."

Zhuang Qi felt helpless, as her good friend was completely different from other women.

All the students who come to St. Mary's Girls' School come from wealthy or noble families.

The school's curriculum is mostly American-style education. In addition to the required courses, there are various home economics training, music and dance, as well as a lot of etiquette and social knowledge of the Western upper class.

Every student who comes here wants to become a lady, join a wealthy family, and enter the upper social circle.

Therefore, many female students started their "socialite" life early.

Only Zhang Ying, who came from a prominent family, did not care about his appearance and devoted himself to literature.

Zhuang Qi couldn't help but shook his head and said, "You still claim to be studying Mr. Bingwen, but you don't even know his new work, The Shawshank Redemption?"

"The Shawshank Redemption is the work of Mr. Bingwen?"

Zhang Ying stood up suddenly and said in disbelief.

"Of course, otherwise why would there be so many students chasing after him, otherwise why would it be so hard to get a ticket? In the Shanghai market, only Mr. Bingwen has such influence."

Zhuang Qi's expression was matter-of-fact. She narrowed her eyes and continued in a very gossipy tone.

"I heard that the school beauty in the third grade was won with a ticket. Although the other party is a rich man, it took a lot of effort to pursue her. I didn't expect that it was won with just a ticket."

She continued talking to herself.
"I am different. Tickets are not enough. I must meet Mr. Bingwen in person."

"Ailing you"

Zhuang Qi was about to continue talking when she found that her best friend seemed to have become dazed. She waved her hand in front of her but was grabbed by Zhang Ying.

"Zhuang Qi, is there any report about this play? Did Mr. Bingwen really rehearse the play? What is the story of this play?"

Seeing this sudden change, Zhuang Qi's face immediately showed a look of realization. She mysteriously took out a copy of "Times" from her bag, handed it to the other party, and said with a smile.

"I knew that a blockhead like you wouldn't be able to resist the temptation of Mr. Bingwen. I have already prepared for you. Here is the latest report."

Zhang Ying was naturally very familiar with the Times. After she found the report about the drama "The Shawshank Redemption", she read it carefully.

Ten minutes later, Eileen Chang, along with her writing, had a good appreciation of the grand occasion of the press conference that day.

She exhaled and said, "It's actually true."

"Of course." Zhuang Qi said excitedly. "I heard that this play is very good. Even several drama masters praised it. An Austrian ambassador watched it three or four times and said he would bring it to Europe to let Westerners see the level of Eastern drama. And..."

Before Zhuang Qi could finish his words, he looked up and found that Zhang Ying had disappeared.

"Where are you going, Eileen Chang?"

Seeing the other person running towards the door, Zhuang Qi hurriedly chased after him.

My best friend often does strange things, and I have to stop her immediately.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Ailing suddenly stopped, turned her immature head, looked at her best friend, smiled and said.

"I'm going to find Dad and ask for two theater tickets. We're going to watch the show tonight!"

(End of this chapter)