Benshan's beloved disciple, starting from the 2009 Spring Festival Gala - Chapter 1

Chapter 1 My Good Brother

January 11th, 2009. The 16th day of the twelfth lunar month. Fifteen days until Lunar New Year’s Eve. At this time, in Beijing, outside a newly opened restaurant, an opening ceremony was underway.

With firecrackers cracking and drums booming, the invited performers began their acts.

The host announced, “Next, please welcome Xiao Shen Yang and Qu Yiming to perform the song My Good Brother. Let’s give them a big hand!”

Clap clap clap clap clap!

Beneath the stage, over a thousand curious onlookers gave a thunderous round of applause.

After all, when there’s a free show, clapping is the least one can do.

Amid the applause, Qu Yiming and Xiao Shen Yang stepped onto the stage. Those closest to the stage examined the pair. Both looked fairly handsome.

But the one in the pink suit standing on the left side from the audience’s point of view looked even more dashing and had a better physique than his partner.

The actor in the pink suit raised the microphone and said, “Good morning, fellow villagers, brothers and sisters! I’m Qu Yiming. I’m sure not many of you know me, but I bet plenty of you recognize the celebrity standing beside me. Am I right, everyone?”

Clap clap clap clap clap!

The audience looked at Xiao Shen Yang in the white suit — he indeed seemed more familiar. The applause grew louder. Smiling, Xiao Shen Yang lifted his mic and said, “Don’t listen to my junior here rambling. He’s teasing me. I’m no big star. Our master, Mr. Zhao Benshan, is the real icon, known all across the country!”

Oh, so they’re Zhao Benshan’s disciples.

Clap clap clap clap clap!

Once he mentioned their famous teacher, the audience erupted in even more enthusiastic applause. They might not have known the two men on stage well, but they certainly knew, respected, and admired Zhao Benshan.

Zhao Benshan, a comedy master who had appeared on the Spring Festival Gala for eighteen consecutive years — his fame in northern China was practically legendary.

There was even a saying—”If you don’t see a Zhao Benshan skit during the New Year, it doesn’t feel like New Year’s at all!”

Back on stage, Qu Yiming continued.

“Our master passed on his skills and teachings to me, giving me the chance to make a living with my senior brother. I’m grateful to our master, and to my senior too. One must always be grateful. Don’t you think I’m right, senior?”

Hearing this, Xiao Shen Yang frowned slightly. He sensed a bit of a jab in those words. But, making money through the performance was more important.

He nodded.

“My junior is absolutely right. And not only is he grateful, he’s also very talented. The song we’re about to perform, My Good Brother, was specially written by him to reflect our relationship. Alright, no more talking — please enjoy our performance. Oh, and I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Xiao Shen Yang…”

As soon as he finished speaking, the BGM for My Good Brother began playing.

Everything was rehearsed in advance.

“At your moment of glory, let me sing a song for you, my good brother, if you’re hurting inside, tell me…”

On stage, Qu Yiming and Xiao Shen Yang, seemingly close as brothers, wrapped their arms around each other and sang with emotion.

As they sang, the audience began to realize — this was that song, the one that had spread like wildfire.

My Good Brother had been released the previous summer and quickly gained immense popularity, heard everywhere from karaoke bars to street corners. However, due to rampant piracy, the song’s creator, Qu Yiming, didn’t earn much from it.

Instead, Xiao Shen Yang had made quite a bit from commercial performances using the song.

Sometimes he brought Qu Yiming along — like today.

“The bond of brotherhood is life’s rarest treasure, like a glass of wine, like an old song, like a glass of wine, like an old song…”

As the song ended, the crowd applauded, cheered, and called for an encore. The two bowed deeply, then exited the stage. Backstage, Xiao Shen Yang pulled Qu Yiming aside and, in a lowered voice, tried to reason with him.

“Yiming, if the performance fee doesn’t go through the company books, you get a bigger cut too, right?”

Qu Yiming met his gaze and replied, “Senior, don’t take this the wrong way — I’m just being honest. We both signed contracts with the company. Taking gigs on the side and not reporting the income isn’t right. Even if our master turns a blind eye, don’t you think the rest of the company will talk?”

Xiao Shen Yang shrugged it off.

“Let them talk. That’s just sour grapes from people who can’t get the same opportunities.”

Since his breakout success last year with My Good Brother, Xiao Shen Yang had let the fame go to his head.

Lately, he’d been taking under-the-table gigs and bypassing the company altogether. Qu Yiming didn’t believe their master — Mr. Zhao Benshan himself was unaware.

It was just that Zhao had been planning to push Xiao Shen Yang to the Spring Festival Gala this year, and thus turned a blind eye to a lot.

Ring ring ring~

Just then, Xiao Shen Yang’s phone rang. He looked down — it was a call from their master.

“Hello, Master…”

Xiao Shen Yang hurriedly answered the phone and asked obsequiously, “Has it passed the review?”

Earlier that year, Uncle Benshan had first prepared a Spring Festival skit called Delivering Cake with his disciple Liu Xiaoguang, but it was rejected for being somewhat vulgar. He then created another one, Super Superstar, for Xiao Shen Yang.

But today, the Spring Festival Gala committee had given their final notice: Super Superstar had also failed to pass the review.

“What?”

Xiao Shen Yang was stunned when he heard the news from Uncle Benshan.

“What do you mean, ‘what’? Is Qu Yiming with you doing a commercial performance?”

Uncle Benshan’s voice on the line sounded a little anxious.

“Yes, yes, he’s with me right now,” Xiao Shen Yang quickly replied.

“Good. Hand him the phone.”

Looking dazed and crestfallen, Xiao Shen Yang handed the phone to Qu Yiming.

“Junior, Master wants to speak with you…”

“Hello, Master?”

Qu Yiming took the phone.

“Alright, I’ll be right there.”

After hanging up, Qu Yiming handed the phone back to Xiao Shen Yang.

“Senior, Master wants me to go find him. I won’t be joining the dinner party after the performance. Could you please pass that along for me? Thanks.”

With that, Qu Yiming grabbed his long down coat, threw it over his shoulders, and left the backstage area.

“What a mess this is…”

Watching Qu Yiming’s figure disappear, Xiao Shen Yang wiped his face, which was full of frustration.

…