In 1942, Tianjin in northern China, a city with a long history, was in the midst of a turbulent time. This year, although the flames of the world war continued, in the Tianjin Beiyang Theater, it was a different situation. At that time, Tianjin was a city of cultural blending, and the art of opera was particularly prosperous, especially Pingju, which attracted many audiences with its unique charm. Pingju, originated in Hebei and popular in North China, has become a favorite art form of the general public with its simple folk language and profound life analysis. In such an era, Pingju is not only a part of culture and entertainment, but also an important way for ordinary people to escape the chaos of war and find spiritual comfort.
The summer heat did not stop the enthusiasm of the theater fans, and the Beiyang Theater was brightly lit and full of people. On the stage, an actress is performing passionately, she is Bai Yushuang, who is known as the "Queen of Commenting Dramas". Bai Yushuang's real name is Li Huimin, and she was sold to Li Bian by her biological father at the age of four to become an adopted daughter, and since then, her fate has been closely linked to drama.
Bai Yushuang's adoptive father Li Jingchun is a veteran of drama commentary, she has been exposed to it since she was a child, and naturally embarked on the road of acting. Her talent was discovered by Sun Fengming, the owner of the troupe, by chance, and her fate changed completely. Seeing that she was talented, Sun Fengming took her as a disciple at all costs and began to systematically cultivate her opera talent.
"Li Huimin, your voice has a special power that can touch people's hearts." Sun Fengming often said to her.
Under the careful guidance of Sun Fengming, Li Huimin quickly made a name for herself in the theater industry, becoming a well-known rising star under the stage name "Li Guizhen". Just when her star career was bright, the family suddenly changed, and her adoptive father Li Jingchun died, leaving her and her adoptive mother Li Bian in trouble. Li Bian's greed is gradually exposed, and she plans to use Li Guizhen's reputation to establish her own theater troupe and seek more benefits from it.
Li Guizhen knew her adoptive mother's intentions, but she was powerless to resist. She was forced to become the main source of income for the troupe, rehearsing and performing every day, but what she reaped was her adoptive mother's insatiable greed. Li Guizhen's artistic career seems to be firmly bound by the shackles of materialism, and her heart gradually feels tired and powerless.
"I just want to sing well on stage, why is life more complicated than drama?" Li Guizhen confides in her companions backstage.
At the peak of her career, an unexpected acting accident pushed her to the crossroads of her life. One summer day in 1942, when she was performing "Boudoir Persuasion" affectionately at the Beiyang Theater, a scream broke the silence of the theater. Li Guizhen suddenly felt unbearable abdominal pain, blood stained her costume red, and she said tremblingly: "I am singing, even if I have to fall on the stage!" "The accident shocked everyone and exposed the drugs that Li Bian had been secretly giving her to control everything, including her body and fertility.
After this incident, Li Guizhen's health was greatly affected, and she began to re-examine her life and future. With the recovery of her body, her mentality also changed, and she gradually broke free from the control of her adoptive mother and began to make choices independently. She quietly approached other theater groups, looking for new opportunities to collaborate, and secretly planned to escape from Lee Bian's control.
"I have to have my own life and not be dictated by anyone anymore." Lee said to her close friend after a late-night rehearsal.
Eventually, after a grand performance, with the help of a friend, Lee Gye-jin managed to break free from Lee Bian's control, and she joined a new theater group and began a new artistic career. In the new environment, she not only regained her former brilliance, but also made a deeper breakthrough in art, and her art of Pingju became more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and she was honored as the "Queen of Pingju".
Lee Gye-jin's story has been performed countless times on the theater stage, and she has inspired countless people who pursue art with her experience and talent. She has not only achieved artistic success, but also found her true self in her personal struggle and self-redemption.
Li Guizhen's life is a drama and a long song of joys and sorrows. Her story teaches us that even in the face of adversity, the human spirit and will have the power to change fate. As she said, "I am singing, even if I fall on stage", this is not only a persistence in my profession, but also a brave response to the challenges of life. On the magnificent stage of life, every dilemma is a turning point, and every choice is an opportunity to start anew. Li Guizhen uses her life to interpret the profound integration of art and life, and her story will always inspire those who come after her to seek light in the midst of difficulties.