In February, Chang Lian'an, one of the founders of Chang's cross talk, is not only an excellent cross talk actor, but also a shrewd businessman. Qiming Tea House is a place he founded with the theme of cross talk.
This homeland has gathered well-known cross talk artists from Beijing and Tianjin, and many famous artists have left passionate laughter here.
is not only those well-known cross talk masters, but also a family on the stage of Qiming Tea House has always spoken silently. This family is none other than Chang Lianan and his three sons: Chang Baolin, Chang Baoting, and Chang Baohua.
Today, I will share with you a little story about Chang Lian'an's choice of a partner for Chang Baoting.
Speaking of Chang Lian'an (1899-1966), a native of Beijing, an artist of Manchu origin, formerly known as Zhao Chang'an. After he lost his father at the age of seven, his mother remarried and his new surname was Wu. According to traditional rules, Zhao Changan should have changed his surname to Wu, but he could not bear to live up to the ancestors of the Zhao family, and he was also grateful for the kindness of the Wu family.
In order not to hurt the feelings of the Zhao family, but also to live up to the kindness of the Wu family, Zhao Changan decided to take the name of "Chang'an" under his own initiative. Later, when he participated in the "Fu Liancheng" science play, he changed his name to "Chang Lian'an" because he was a ligature student.
Chang Lianan couldn't continue singing when he had a bad voice, so he switched to Zhangjiakou and made a living by juggling, and later turned to learning cross talk. In 1931, his eldest son Chang Baokun worshipped Zhang Shouchen as his teacher and became the sixth generation of Chinese cross talk, a generation of "treasures".
Zhang Shouchen is the head of the gate of the "Shou" generation, and while he accepted Chang Baokun as a disciple, he also asked Jiao Dehai for advice on behalf of Chang Lian'an.
In this way, Chang Lianan and his son Chang Baokun have entered the door of cross talk.
Chang Lianan has six sons, namely Chang Baokun, Chang Baolin, Chang Baoting, Chang Baohua, Chang Baoqing, and Chang Baofeng. What is rare is that he has successfully trained all his sons to become cross talk actors.
Chang Baoting (1929-2015) is Chang Lian'an's third son, born in Beijing, and his stage name is "Three Mushrooms". Since he was a child, he learned cross talk with his father and eldest brother, and began to officially perform cross talk on stage at the age of 9.
Chang Baoting showed outstanding talent in music, and he quickly won the love of the audience on his first stage, and was known as "the red curtain". Chang Lianan loves him very much and personally praises this precious son.
In the cross talk world, it is quite common for old-timers and young people to partner together, whether it is a master and apprentice or a father and son, there is a tradition of old cheers and small laughter. Chang Lianan and Chang Baoting father and son are no exception.
Chang Baoting became the pillar of the Qiming Tea Club when he was 11 years old, with an income comparable to that of an adult, and he received a "whole share" treatment.
As Chang Baoting gradually grew up, Chang Lianan began to choose a partner for him in order to make him mature faster. In terms of selection, Chang Lianan has always shown a high vision. The eldest son Chang Baokun's partner is Zhao Peiru, and the second son Chang Baolin's partner is Guo Rongqi, both of whom were personally selected by Chang Lianan.
When it came to the third son Chang Baoting, Chang Lianan finally chose Bai Quanfu after repeated consideration. Bai Quanfu (1919-1993) was a native of Beijing and of Manchu origin.
Bai Quanfu was born in a family of artists, his grandfather Bai Qinglin is one of the "Eight Monsters of Tianqiao", his stage name is "Yunlifei", and his father Bai Baoshan's stage name is "Xiaoyunlifei". Both of them are light achievements, and they are famous for their performances of "Funny Erhuang".
Although Bai Quanfu did not learn the light skills of the family, so he called himself "unable to fly", he began to learn cross talk at the age of 15, and at the age of 18, he worshipped the cross talk predecessor Yu Junbo as a teacher, and officially devoted himself to the cross talk industry.
He has partnered with Hou Baolin, Luo Rongshou, Guo Quanbao and others, performing in Beijing Tianqiao, Jinan and other places, accumulating rich performance experience and making a name for himself in Beijing.
Chang Lian'an chose him, in addition to his age, mainly because of his rich experience on the stage.
In 1942, Chang Lian'an set up two tables of banquets, and then pulled Chang Baoting and said to Bai Quanfu: "In the future, the three mushrooms will have to ask Bai Sange to take care of them more." ”
Bai Quanfu hurriedly bowed and saluted: "Fourth Master Chang, don't be so polite." ”
Chang Baoting immediately understood, and he affectionately took Bai Quanfu's hand and shouted, "Third Brother Bai is good." ”
Bai Quanfu was happy: "Third brother, our brothers don't have to be polite." ”
Chang Baoting continued: "Both of us are third brothers, which is quite suitable. ”
Everyone laughed, and the atmosphere was quite cheerful.
Surprisingly, however, something went wrong on the first day of their partnership. When they rehearsed "Selling Clothes" together for the first time, they barely communicated except for saying their lines step by step.
Chang Baoting has been silent, because he thinks that Third Brother Bai is 10 years older than me, and I am just a little brother, and I just listen to what he says.
The reason why Bai Quanfu remained silent was that he considered that although Chang Baoting was not very old, he was already an important pillar of the Qiming Tea Society, so he should let him speak first.
After finishing the work, Chang Baoting went home and told his father: "Find me another partner, I don't want to work with Brother Bai anymore." ”
Chang Lianan hurriedly asked, "What's wrong?" Do you have a conflict? ”
Chang Baoting replied: "No, it's just that Third Brother Bai has rarely spoken." ”
Chang Lianan smiled: "It must be because you talk too much." ”
Chang Baoting lowered his head and said, "I feel quite embarrassed when the two of us are together, so I didn't talk much." ”
Chang Lianan persuaded: "If we work together tomorrow, you can say a few more words." ”
The next day, the two worked together again, Chang Baoting began to become talkative according to his father's instructions, and Bai Quanfu gradually became articulate.
On the third day, they performed on stage, which was the first time the two had officially partnered.
Unexpectedly, Bai Quanfu made a small mistake on stage and said the wrong word. Fortunately, Chang Baoting reacted quickly and quickly answered, but the audience didn't notice the problem.
When he went home in the evening, Chang Baoting said to Chang Lian'an: "Third Brother Bai will eat chestnuts when he goes up, you better find me a new partner." ”
Chang Lianan suddenly stretched out his hand, gave Chang Baoting a loud slap, and scolded angrily: "Your third brother Bai is the most suitable for you to measure work, remember, as long as you still talk about cross talk, don't part with third brother Bai." ”
This is the first time Chang Lianan has treated Chang Baoting so toughly, and he has always spoiled him.
After the fight, Chang Lian An walked away, leaving Chang Baoting standing in place with his face covered.
In the next few days, Bai Quanfu never made a mistake again, and the tacit cooperation between the two became stronger and stronger.
In less than half a year, their tacit cooperation on stage made them a high-profile partner of Qiming Tea Society, and the relationship between the two became closer and closer offstage.
From 1942 to Bai Quanfu's death due to illness in 1993, this cooperation spanning half a century has both business exchanges and deep friendship, becoming an inseparable pair of "iron files".