The literary era since 1979

"In the early years of the Republic of China, the old owner of the Fujude restaurant in Qianmen, Beijing, who sold roast duck, handed Fujude over to Lu Mengshi before his death."

"Under Lu Mengshi's leadership, Ju De entered its heyday, but it also encountered greater challenges. There were thugs causing trouble outside, and the second young master trying to seize power inside..."

"In the end, the running dog was cooked, the cunning rabbit died, the good bow was hidden, and the birds were all gone. Lu Mengshi had no choice but to leave Fujude and return to his hometown..."

The story was told in dialect, and it was about the drama version of "The Best Restaurant in the World".

Gong Xing and Wan Fang were cracking melon seeds and listening with great interest. Wan Jiabao, on the other hand, got a different feeling from the story:

"Your book 'The World's No. 1 Restaurant' covers a lot of things, including food culture, Beijing style, famous opera artists, and alley markets..."

"You are indeed an expert. Aren't 'roots-seeking culture' and 'new Beijing-style novels' popular in the literary world recently?"

Fangyan smiled and said, "I wonder if we can introduce it into a drama, using the folk customs of Beijing over the past century as the background, and using Quanjude, the 'best restaurant in the world', to show our authentic Beijing culture."

Wan Jiabao became more and more interested, "How are you going to show it?"

"Take food culture as an example. You can arrange for two chefs to talk about 'Man Han Banquet'."

Dialect, one person plays two roles, "A said, 'Can we have a full banquet today?' B replied, 'We've had it a few times before.' A asked, 'How many dishes are there?' B said, 'One hundred and eight.' A asked why it was 1,808. B replied, 'Thirty-six heavenly generals, seventy-two earthly demons, covering everything in heaven and on earth.' A asked what was the point of this. B said, 'Six dishes: cold, hot, sweet, salty, meat and vegetarian. No rice is used for birthday drinks, and no peach buns are used for wedding drinks. In fact, it's just a feast set up by a hundred miles away. It looks like something that doesn't taste good...'"

"It's a very interesting Beijing accent. It seems to have used the technique of naming dishes in folk art and crosstalk, right?"

Wan Jiabao thought about it carefully.

Fangyan nodded, "What do you think?"

"typical!"

Wan Jiabao smiled with satisfaction, "Performing a serious drama in a comedic way, although the 'jokes' aren't enough to make people laugh, they aren't awkward or funny enough to scratch the surface, and there's a sense of leisure and fun like old BJ chatting away."

Wan Fang always felt that something was wrong. She felt that "The World's No. 1 Restaurant" was referring to something, but she just couldn't figure out what it was referring to.

"Isn't this the enterprise reform that is currently underway?"

The dialect is not concealed. These days, state-owned enterprises and collective enterprises are undergoing reform, while private enterprises and self-employed individuals are also springing up like mushrooms after a rain. "The World's No. 1 Restaurant" draws on part of Quanjude's history and fictionalizes the story of the rise and fall of a similar catering company in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China. Starting from the professional manager Lu Mengshi, the story interweaves the experiences of Fujude's employees, customers, and employers.

Why is Fujude so prosperous?
It was because the old shopkeeper chose the right person that Lu Mengshi, with his courage and talent, made Fujude a prosperous business.

But why did it decline again?

Because just like in "Teahouse", in that turbulent era, Fujude had to survive in the cracks just like the teahouse. Coupled with the various drawbacks of family businesses, as it was said in the play, Fujude's business was "one person doing the work and eight people destroying it", so it was difficult for it to grow.

"You are so brave, Xiao Fang. You have come up with another analogy."

Wan Jiabao's eyes sparkled, "Shang Yang wrote about the 'spirit of reform', and this time it goes a step further and writes about enterprises!"

Dialect playfully said: "Hey, if I don't write to this level, how can I be appreciated by you and the People's Art Theatre?"

Wan Fang teased, "Xiaoxiang, this guy in your family is really dishonest. He is not praising my father, he is praising yourself!"

"how could be!"

Gong Xing was about to say a few good words for Fang Yan, but Wan Jiabao raised his hand to stop him, saying with a smile: "Let this kid brag about himself. Whether from the perspective of depth or height, the story of "The World's No. 1 Restaurant" is indeed worthy of praise."

Fangyan agrees with this deeply. The story of "The World's Number One Restaurant" touches on hot topics in today's and even future society, such as modern corporate system, entrepreneurship, family business inheritance, and revival of time-honored brands. This makes the drama full of realistic values ​​that transcend the times and it is always new to watch.

Only a play like this can become a signature play of the People's Art Theatre, like Shang Yang.

Gong Xing frowned.

Fangyan said in a doting and gentle tone: "Just ask."

Gong Xing said weakly, "Why do I feel that this "The World's No. 1 Restaurant" has some shadows of "Tea House"? "

"Yes, I feel the same as Xiaoxiang."

Wan Fang clapped her hands. "Yanzi, your "The Best Restaurant in the World" seems to be following the path of Mr. Lao She's "Teahouse". Fujude corresponds to Yutai Teahouse, the shopkeeper Lu Mengshi corresponds to Wang Lifa, and the owner Tang Deyuan and his two sons correspond to Qin Zhongyi..."

Fangyan did not refute it. In fact, "The World's No. 1 Restaurant" is indeed somewhat similar to "Tea House", but there are also great differences.

For example, in "Teahouse", Wang Lifa's improvement of the teahouse business did not change the old system, but instead focused on frugality and alternative ways of increasing revenue, which ultimately only left the teahouse with some meaningless struggles on the brink of death.

Lu Mengshi took over Fujude when it was about to go bankrupt. He continued to carry out reforms after taking over, which led to the Fujude Roast Duck Restaurant, which is known as "the best restaurant in the world". However, due to the drag of his teammates and the turbulent and chaotic environment in the early Republic of China, it gradually declined.

"Xiao Fang did not follow Teahouse step by step, but took a different approach, with his own innovations and pursuits."

But obviously, Wan Jiabao sees things more deeply than Gong Xing and Wan Fang, and sees an additional spiritual core of "professionalism and dignity".

Read the error-free version at 69shuba! 6=9+shu_ba is the first to publish this novel.

Just like each scene describes an era, people from all walks of life in Yanjing come in and out of this big teahouse, although "The World's Number One Restaurant" does not focus much on the supporting characters, each of them is flesh and blood. After all, in the old society, cooks, actors, waiters, doormen and nannies were called the "Five Sons of the Occupation". This kind of business of serving people has always been despised. Fujude revolves around such a group of small characters, as well as the eunuchs who serve in the palace and the impoverished bannerman Ke Wu, forming a vivid picture of the life of the city people in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China.

"Your opinion is very good."

Fang Yan said: "It is to give a fair name to the 'Five Sons' that was criticized in the old society. Everyone has dignity in life."

Wan Jiabao then asked for more details about the drama script, such as the structural arrangement.

Each scene in Teahouse is independent. Mr. Lao She used different characters to form drama segments, and then used the teahouse as a scene to cleverly combine them, reflecting the social outlook at that time and having the characteristics of the times. However, The Number One Restaurant in the World is quite different. It is still a traditional drama form. Each scene is closely related. The plot of the previous scene is the foreshadowing of the content of the next scene, and the next scene will also mention or resolve the unresolved conflicts in the previous scene.

Therefore, although the film spans a period of ten years, the entire storyline is connected together in a complete and continuous manner.

"You said that you would perform this play for the visiting delegation, and then arrange for them to go to Quanjude to eat roast duck..."

Speaking the jokes of "Leader Colon" in dialect, "Eating food, drinking wine, drooling, feeling the profound history of Tianxia Diyilou, feeling the name familiar, remembering the deeds firmly, this form of learning is vivid, lively, novel, visible, odorous, chewy, and memorable, won't it greatly deepen your understanding of "Tianxia Diyilou"?"

"It is said that you have a unique understanding of crosstalk, drawing essence from crosstalk dramas and creating the folk art form of skits."

Wan Jiabao laughed and scolded: "I think what you said is true. With your eloquence, it would be a waste of your talent if you don't learn crosstalk."

Fangyan grinned and said, "I'd rather not compete with the crosstalk artists for food."

Wan Jiabao couldn't help but sigh: "I originally thought that you have been focusing on publishing magazines, novels, and movies in recent years, and might have neglected drama and plays. I didn't expect that your charm is still as good as when you wrote "Shang Yang". As he said this, he patted his shoulder and marveled.

Seeing that the two were talking more and more excitedly, Wan Fang couldn't help but remind them:
"Dad, Yanzi, it's almost time. I think we should go to Quanjude and sit down to eat and talk."

"Okay!"

Wan Jiabao pointed at the dialect and said, "Go and visit the place to collect folk songs. Just like what he said just now, eat roast duck, drink wine, drool, and experience the profound history of Tianxia Diyilou. The name will feel familiar, and the deeds will be remembered firmly..."

"Hahaha!"

Suddenly, everyone burst into laughter, and the laughter filled the whole room. (End of this chapter)