Chapter Thirty-One: The First Variety Show Invitation

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“Hui, do you feel a surge of passion coursing through you right now? Is it because of the profound sense of history in this place?” Liu Qingshan suddenly asked.

Liang Jiahui nodded. “Of course. Counting this time, it’s my fourth visit, and each time I’m deeply awed by the atmosphere here.”

Liu Qingshan sighed. “It’s a pity, really. I grew up in the neighboring province, yet for twenty years I never thought to come here, even though it’s so close!”

“You’re from Ning Province?”

“No, Gansu Province.”

“Well, that explains it. I heard you lost your parents when you were very young, and it was your grandfather who raised you. Financial circumstances make a difference.”

“That’s part of it, but I think it’s more about our generation’s indifference toward thousands of years of ancestral culture. I feel a deep sense of shame about that now.”

“Haha, that’s not so different from how I felt on my first visit. It’s only human.”

“I just decided yesterday to buy a house in the capital. I thought it was for the entertainment resources, but now I realize the Great Wall might have exerted an unconscious influence on me. The moment I stepped in here, it was the image of the Great Wall that sprang to mind—before anything else.”

“That’s a rare perspective, but I understand it. Not everyone attaches as much importance to cultural heritage as you do.”

“To be honest, Hui, I didn’t always have this awareness. After I truly comprehended the Thirty-Six Hands of Flowery Fist, I began to sense that perhaps, within this nearly lost tradition, there lingers a trace of our ancestors’ spirit.”

“Now that you mention it, you might be right! There’s an old saying that ancestral traditions carry a thread of divine will. No one’s ever proven it, of course, but such stories have circulated for at least a thousand years.”

Liu Qingshan was not making this up; he genuinely felt a subtle resonance within. And with Liang Jiahui’s words echoing in his mind, he found himself sinking into deep contemplation.

Liang Jiahui didn’t interrupt him, instead wandering off alone, deeper into the site.

It was a long while before Liu Qingshan snapped out of his reverie, delighted to realize that he had unconsciously connected with the information from his Super Star-Maker Device.

To his astonishment, he could see with his own eyes the number in parentheses next to the Thirty-Six Hands of Flowery Fist in his physical skills menu racing upward. In just that brief moment of absentmindedness, it had leapt from 23 to 76, just shy of 100.

From his experience over the past two months, he knew that diligent practice would yield perhaps half a point’s improvement each day. This sudden jump of 51 points in an instant was equivalent to nearly half a year’s worth of training.

He had never imagined that a flicker of insight could bring about such dramatic change.

For a moment, he even wondered if deities truly existed.

Yet, upon regaining his clarity, he understood: it was not a literal deity, but perhaps, in these ancient martial arts, there really were traces of ancestral thought and intention woven within.

Of course, the Thirty-Six Hands of Flowery Fist dates back only to the late Ming and early Qing period, attributed to Gan Fengchi, less than four centuries ago. It was no thousand-year-old tradition. But even so, it still carried the essence of the Chinese ancestors.

Perhaps few would believe this theory, but with the Super Star-Maker Device in his possession, Liu Qingshan had no doubt at all.

It indirectly confirmed what Liang Jiahui had said before: maybe the divine will of the ancestors is just legend, but the creator’s intent could indeed be embedded in the transmission of their skills.

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In other words, the more deeply one mastered the ancient martial art, the closer one drew to the level and state of mind of the ancestors who created it.

After his brief surprise faded, Liu Qingshan’s heart swelled with anticipation for the upcoming Seventy-Two Divine Grabs. Since he could not yet unlock it, it suggested there was something even more advanced than the boxing techniques he had already mastered.

Even when his skill was only around twenty points, he had already gained recognition for his prowess in the martial arts world. To surpass the Thirty-Six Hands of Flowery Fist would surely be a thrilling prospect.

He felt no need for further proof. With his experience as Chen Long and over forty years in martial arts, there was little in the field he hadn’t heard of. If even he acknowledged the power of the Thirty-Six Hands of Flowery Fist, how could Liu Qingshan not feel the same?

His train of thought was soon interrupted by the ringing of his phone—the film crew had arrived, a large group en masse.

He waved to Liang Jiahui in the distance and walked outside to greet them.

At this moment, Chen Long and nearly two hundred others were receiving their entry badges from the relevant authorities. Spotting Liu Qingshan from afar, Chen Long called out to him:

“The main gate isn’t officially closed yet. Are there still many visitors inside?”

“No more. Hui is checking the camera positions. Once the museum staff give us the signal, we can start setting up.”

Noticing not only security but also police present, Liu Qingshan realized the clearing-out was almost done.

Jin Xishan walked over and asked in a low voice, “Did you miss me these past two days?”

Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she spoke.

A surge of warmth swept through Liu Qingshan, and he replied, “Missing you doesn’t help much with dozens of kilometers between us, does it?”

“Well, now that we’re together again, do you have any thoughts about that?” she teased.

He subconsciously pointed his lips at her, making Jin Xishan blush deeply.

She was about to hurry away when Liang Jiahui’s voice called out behind them, “Aren’t you going to wait for your big brother? Qingshan, there’s a terracotta warrior inside that looks a lot like you. I was just about to call you over to see it!”

Sun Zhou, approaching on the sound, chuckled, “Looking for a terracotta warrior that resembles oneself is a common impulse among visitors. The marvelous variety of faces is what has astonished historians for generations. If you find one that resembles you, it’s really something to be proud of.”

Liu Qingshan grinned, “I’ll borrow a camera from big brother later. My phone’s camera’s too low-res. Don’t forget to show me, Hui, I want to take a photo with it!”

To his surprise, Sun Zhou handed him his phone. “Here, I have a photo from a few years ago with one of the warriors. People said we looked alike at the time, but when I looked closely later, I realized it was just my imagination. It’s all in the mind.”

2004 was widely recognized as the year of the camera phone. Only then did mobile photography move beyond the simple “photo sticker” booths. The phone in Sun Zhou’s hand was the much-hyped Nokia with a million-pixel camera—a luxury device costing seven or eight thousand yuan, far beyond Liu Qingshan’s outdated model.

Seeing the high-end Nokia compared to Liu Qingshan’s battered old phone, Jin Xishan laughed, “Qingshan, throw your phone away! How can you even compare? Aren’t you embarrassed?”

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Before she finished, Chen Long walked over. “I have a spare—an English version sent from the States! After we wrap, come by and pick it up. Consider it a gift from your big brother.”

“Big brother, what can I say? First you give me clothes, now a phone. The ‘Myth’ film crew is really treating me well—I’m upgrading everything!”

“Don’t you want to show off a bit when you get back to Hengdian?” Jin Xishan tried not to laugh.

“It’s not just about showing off—I’ll be strutting around like in those Hong Kong movies!”

Liu Qingshan’s words drew a round of laughter, but it was quickly interrupted by the crew’s busy preparations.

The museum had notified them; they were now allowed inside.

Liu Qingshan, lacking much experience with lighting and camera placement, stayed outside to help set up tents.

Jin Xishan stayed by his side. “How’s your recovery? The stitches aren’t out yet—don’t tear your wound.”

“No problem. It’s my first time experiencing this, but I never expected an ancient martial art to have such miraculous healing properties!”

“Some officials asked about that yesterday. Do you know how big brother Chen Long responded?”

“There’s a story?”

“There is. You don’t know—there was a recording shown to them in the conference room, and they were all amazed by your skills! Big brother said you’re currently the only inheritor of ancient martial arts in the country, and you have a similarly miraculous traditional medicine recipe. But he specifically said the recipe must remain confidential—in short, he made up a wonderful story… how to put it? Yes, he bluffed!”

“And they believed him?”

“Not only did they believe him, a provincial TV station even proposed filming a special interview program with you!”

In 2004, the concept of variety shows was still new in China. Western countries and Japan had pioneered the format forty years ago; after being adapted in Hong Kong and Taiwan, it had been around for a couple of decades, and only introduced on the mainland a little over ten years ago.

At the time, variety shows were strictly regulated, with only two national programs—‘Zheng Da Variety’ and ‘Variety Grandview’—having any real scale. These two led the way in diversifying domestic television.

So, local stations were still in their infancy, showing just how underdeveloped the mainland entertainment industry was.

“How did big brother Chen Long answer them?”

“You don’t have an agent yet, so he agreed on your behalf. But he didn’t hide anything—he brought up your appearance fee: an even 100,000 yuan!”

“Big brother really dares to ask for that. I’ve never even had a lead role, still just a bit-part actor. They used to pay a thousand, tops. Will they go for it?”

“Of course, they won’t accept right away—but big brother didn’t stop bluffing! He claimed a Hong Kong TV station had already made an offer at that rate, and even pulled out his phone to call and prove it on the spot!”

“Haha, I never knew big brother could lie with such flair! They wouldn’t actually let him make the call, would they?”

“Of course not. And he added that once ‘Myth’ was released, your appearance fee would jump tenfold. Even if you’re not the lead, your role will have a profound impact. Plus, with the recent incident, you’ll be the fastest-rising young actor in the region!”