Chapter 408 404. Grandpa Gou Gou’s Heroic Past (Part )
Teacher Xu rarely showed a smile on his face.

The answer was, "This is the new China. We don't follow the old social rules anymore. Captain Yang led his men to sue Feng Miaoshi, and the lawsuit lasted until 1954. They took the old box back. In name, we paid for it, but in reality, we just took back our things. Captain Yang and my master pooled some money and gave it to Feng Miaoshi."

“However, during this period, the troupe was unable to perform because there were no props or costumes.”

"Everyone in the troupe was trying to find their own way to make a living, and they also tried to find some good talents to pass on the art of Gugu. I was found by a master in 1959, and I became his apprentice and learned Gugu opera."

Upon hearing this, Grandpa Gonggong slapped his thigh and said, "No wonder I didn't get any news from 52 to 53. It's completely off topic."

Luo Yihang rolled his eyes and asked tentatively, "Mr. Gonggong, why didn't you come here earlier? If you had come in 1950, you would have found it right away."

Grandpa Gonggong said helplessly, "In 19, I followed the 57th Division of the th Army to fight bandits in the mountains. I was in the mountains all day long, so I didn't have time to run out and look for people."

"Huh?!" Luo Yihang was shocked. Uncle Gou Gou had this experience? He had never heard him talk about it before.

This is the first time he talks about his past...

Luo Yihang wanted to ask again.

But Teacher Xu has already continued his talk.

Afterwards, the Gonggong Troupe took back the boxes and cage props, and Director Yang began to tour with the remaining actors of the troupe.

But at that time, there were few actors and actresses, and it was difficult to get enough people to put on a big play. They could only perform small plays, which could not be performed in big cities and were mostly performed in the countryside.

Besides, it was the 1950s, and the war had finally stopped in the southwest. There was a lot of work to be done, and everyone was busy and had no time to watch the show.

You can’t make much money in the countryside, and not many people watch it.

The already small number of actors began to disperse again.

Although he accepted some students along the way, due to a lack of manpower, he had to fill in before he could finish his apprenticeship. As a result, his performance was not good and no one watched it, which put him in a vicious cycle.

Director Yang persisted until 1961, when he returned to Tianhan and changed the name to Nanzheng County Troupe. At that time, the troupe had only people, including only nine actors.

Later, in 1977, it was changed back to Nanzheng Gugu Troupe, and it continues to this day.

It was selected as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2006.

After being selected as an intangible cultural heritage, the conditions have improved, but it only guarantees the most basic thing: people can survive.

Still, no one watches the play, and it is supported entirely by grants.

Just keeping the show going is exhausting.
-
I listened to Teacher Xu’s talk about the history of the Gugu Troupe spanning several decades.

Uncle Gonggong slapped his thighs, regretting it. "That means you guys started to perform in 1959, but I had to go back to Shanxi at the end of 1953. It was already 1960 when I came back. I missed it."

Alas, because of this incident, the two groups were completely separated.

The Gou Gou Theatre Company performed once in 1950 and a second time between 1954 and 1961.

It just so happened that Grandpa Gou Gou was not around during these two periods of time.

He searched for more than a year from 52 to 53, while the Gou Gou Theater was involved in a lawsuit.

but.

Has Uncle Gou Gou also been to Shanxi?

Nothing could be more.

There is a problem here.

It was so lively before liberation. On August 2nd, there was a theater festival with more than 40 operas and countless troupes.

How come by the 1950s, there were only three opera troupes and a dozen people left?

There are more than forty brands, and even the props and costumes are only available in one store.

How could it wither so quickly?

It doesn't make sense.

What exactly happened “that time” that both old men don’t want to mention?
Luo Yihang took advantage of the time when Grandpa Gou Gou and Teacher Xu were chatting about the past of Hong Yingtao Zhang Jinfeng and Captain Yang.

He secretly asked Captain Zhang, "Captain Zhang, did anything happen before liberation?"

Captain Zhang glanced at the two old men sitting on the sofa opposite him.

He lowered his voice and spoke to Luo Yihang.

"During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, our area was the rear area and also a propaganda base. At that time, all the Gugu Opera Troupes devoted themselves to the war of resistance and saved the country." "Our area is also an important air force airport. Chenggu Airport and Chengdu Airport were the only two airports that could fly large bombers at that time."

"So we were bombed repeatedly here, especially the airport. They bombed it and then repaired it, and then bombed it again."

"In 43, we received an order not only to repair the airport but also to expand it. Tens of thousands of workers went to the construction site to repair Chenggu Airport."

"All the opera troupes and drama clubs in Tianhan went there, including the Gonggong opera, the Duangong opera, the Shehuo opera, and the drama clubs organized by students and progressive youth. They all went to the construction site to give performances to express their consolation."

"Ugh."

Speaking of this, Captain Zhang couldn't help but sigh.

Can't bear to say more.

But this sigh attracted the attention of Mr. Gou Gou.

He yelled at the top of his voice, "What are you two kids talking about? There's nothing you can't say, it's glorious. Hang kid doesn't know, I'm telling you."

"On the eighth day of the ninth month of 43, during the lunch break, all the troupes dressed in full costumes and went on stage, beating gongs and drums and performing. It was a lively scene, and the first appearance was greeted with applause from the whole house."

Having said this, Uncle Gonggong paused and his voice gradually became low.

"It's so lively, I can't even hear the planes in the sky."

"Some say there are dozens, some say hundreds. Anyway, the Japanese planes are bombing the airport again on a large scale."

"We, the Wan Zi Troupe, are good at fighting and competing, and we fought for the best stages... but they are all gone."

"I was still young back then, so I wasn't allowed to go. I saved my life, but I wasn't allowed to go in to collect the bodies until September 13th. They were all gone, all gone... I didn't even get a few pieces of good meat..."

Luoluo thought that after so many years, he had let it go, but in fact he hadn't.

He tried hard to keep his tone as calm as possible, but it was impossible.

Two old hands, clenching tighter and tighter...

Luo Yihang hurried over, picked up the water cup and handed it to Grandpa Gou Gou, and rubbed his back with his other hand to help him breathe, muttering, "It's okay, it's okay, Grandpa Gou Gou, it's all over, it's all over."

Uncle Gougou took a sip of water.

He slammed the cup of water on the table.

He wiped his face and laughed heartily, "It's in the past, it's all in the past!"

While smiling, he slowly raised his hands and murmured, "There are nine Japanese lives under these hands. This is all I can do. I can only ask for some interest."

After saying that, he raised his head and looked at Teacher Xu: "I have also recovered the interest for the same word!"

Ah!
Uncle Gonggong!
Luo Yihang felt something was wrong.

He quickly stepped forward again to calm Grandpa Gou Gou down, and advised him, "Why don't you take a break first, have a drink of water, and then we can talk about something else. Look at the little kids in the troupe. Gou Gou Opera has a legacy, and the legacy is still there."

Grandpa Luo pushed Luo Yihang away and said, "The old man is fine, and the kids are fine. I'm happy today, and I want to say something."

Then he pointed at Luo Yihang and said, "You've always wanted to know what I did. I'll tell you everything today."

Then Uncle Gonggong exhaled, cleared his throat, and continued speaking in a calm tone.

"On September 21, the radio said that the Japanese bombers were coming from Yuncheng, Shanxi."

"The old man was still young and full of youthful vigor. He was obsessed with revenge."

"We collected the bodies of the old Wanziban and hid their belongings. It took us five months to reach the Yuncheng Japanese Air Force Base."

"After another month of treading on the plate, I finally found an opening and sneaked in in the middle of the night to kill two Japanese soldiers."

"On the second night, I killed three more. Haha, one of them could fly a plane. Damn, maybe he was the one who blew up our airport. I cut him with my knife and the blood covered the whole wall. It stank."

"I went to check again on the third day. The Japanese had learned their lesson. The guards were tight and I couldn't get in."

"Bah, what a coward! I don't believe he won't come out."

"Old man, I am lying in ambush on the roadside for three days and three nights. I intercepted a Japanese vehicle and finally caught a big fish. Two Japanese officers and two Japanese soldiers. I killed them all with one knife. It was so satisfying!"

At this point, Grandpa Gougo's face twitched and he couldn't help shivering.

"Alas." He sighed, his tone becoming heavy, "This has stirred up a hornet's nest. The Japs are going crazy. I, an old man, lost my grip and was caught by the Japs..."

(End of this chapter)