CHENG Ying Rescues the Orphan (19:30 P.M. on September 20th)
During the Warring States Period, about 300 family members of ZHAO Dun, a faithful official of the State of Jin, are killed by a traitor TU Angu. CHENG Ying and others risk their lives to save the only orphan and fight against TU Angu. The 16-year mental and physical tortures for CHENG Ying from rescuing the orphan out of danger, raising the orphan up against various threats, the pain of losing his own son, the humiliation of being reviled to the pain of misunderstanding shed light on CHENG Ying’s human nature and national spirit of defying vicious power, safeguarding justice and upholding tenacity. French literature master Voltaire adapted this story into
The Chinese Orphan, which was premiered in Paris and has profound influence upon society ever since.
Cast
CHENG Ying: LI Shujian, SHAO Fuyou
Princess: ZHANG Yage
On the Gentle Breeze Pavilion (19:30 P.M. on September 21st)
In the Ming Dynasty, the childless coupld—ZHANG Yuanxiu and his wife, who are aged over 60 and make a living by selling tofu. They are overjoyed to find an abandoned baby boy when they pass by Qingfeng Pavilion. They name him, “ZHANG Jibao”, and raised the boy for 13 years. However, informed of his origin, ZHANG Jibao escapes from the ZHANG Family, crying to find his own birth parents. ZHANG Yuanxiu chases after his adopted son to Qingfeng Pavilion, and comes across ZHOU Guiying on her way to look for her son. It turns out that ZHOU Guiying is really the birth mother of ZHANG Jibao. When ZHOU Guiying learns that ZHANG Jibao is her natural son previously discarded at the Qingfeng Pavilion against her true intentions, she kneels down and begs ZHANG Yuanxiu to return the boy to her. ZHANG Yuanxiu cannot bear to let ZHOU Guiying endure the sufferings of parting with her son again, and he is worried about his inability to cultivate ZHANG Jibao as an able person. He reluctantly agrees ZHOU Guiying to take ZHANG Jibao away. ZHANG Yuanxiu’s wife misses ZHANG Jibao very much and even becomes blind. The couple become beggars in their twilight years. Under pressure of the jealous hostess (her husband’s principal wife), ZHOU Guiying has to acquiesce that she is ZHANG Jibao’s aunt, and her son is cultivated by the hostess disguised as his birth mother. Five years later, hearing such good news that ZHANG Jibao becomes Number One Scholar at the highest imperial examination and returns to his hometown in glory, ZHANG Yuanxiu and his wife happily burst into tears, and they come to visit him. However, the ungrateful ZHANG Jibao disowns the adoptive parents. ZHANG Yuanxiu’s wife commits suicide in Qingfeng Pavilion, and ZHANG Yuanxiu dies of grief and indignation. Scolded and spat on by the people, ZHANG Jibao and the hostess are struck to death by lightning in Qingfeng Pavilion soon after.
Cast
ZHANG Yuanxiu: LI Shujian, TIAN Hongya
Mrs.HE: LIAN Caifen
SU Wu Tending Sheep (19:30 P.M. on September 24th)
Under the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the Han Dynasty and the Huns often wage wars so that Yanmen Pass is scattered with bones of the dead. In order to bring prosperity to the Han Dynasty and security to the people, Zhonglangjiang (Imperial Corps Commander) SU Wu risks his life to serve as an envoy to the Huns under an imperial order, on the hope of putting an end to century-long wars. After SU Wu accomplishes his mission; and is about to return, an internal rebellion beaks out in the upper classes of the Huns. Chanyu (chief of the Huns) suspects the envoy mission of the Han Dynasty is in collusion with the surrendering officials and has gotten involved in the rebellion. Therefore, all members of the envoy mission of the Han Dynasty are detained. SU Wu is tortured because of his refusal to surrender to the Huns. Chanyu exiles SU Wu to herd sheep in Lake Baikal, and attempts to force him to surrender after awhile.
In the following decade, SU Wu makes a living as a shepherd under harsh adversity without any hope of returning to the Han Dynasty. SU Wu escorts the sheep, faces up to wolves and lives together with wild geese. He always holds an envoy pole of the Han Dynasty and maintains his unswerving allegiance. In the Han Dynasty, an envoy pole is presented by the emperor, which is a national symbol. Firmly holding it also demonstrates his loyalty to the Han Dynasty.
LI Ling, who is a Han general forced to surrender the Huns, delivers news on the misfortune to SU Wu that his family has broken up. The sorrowful SU Wu loses consciousness in a blizzard. The Hun woman Ayun is dispatched by Chanyu to make SU Wu stay for a longer time in Lake Baikal. She saves him. SU Wu and Ayun get married and give birth to a son.
19 years later, awed by the powerful Han Dynasty, the Hun Kingdom has to agree to conduct peace negotiations. Li Ling secretly informs the Han envoy of SU Wu’s dilemma as a shepherd in Lake Baikal. The Han Dynasty requests to let SU Wu return. Chanyu disallows Ayun and her son to accompany him. SU Wu has to say goodbye to his family yet again.
Cast
SU Wu: LI Shujian, LI Dongjie
Chanyu: GAO Hongqi
Life of GUAN Yu (19:30 P.M. on September 26th)
In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the whole country is in turbulence. GUAN Yu, LIU Bei and ZHANG Fei vow to become sworn brothers at the peach orchard. Through thick and thin, they stick together with each other and unite to serve the country and bring peace to the people. Suffering from a defeat in Xuzhou, GUAN Yu is still faithful to the Kingdom of Han instead of surrendering to CAO Cao. Although CAO Cao shows special favour to him by all means, GUAN Yu keeps his allegiance. He is impervious to the temptations of high position and wealth. Wealth and rank cannot turn his head. Informed of the whereabouts of LIU Bei, GUAN Yu rides alone for thousands of miles without hesitation, and
stands on the sworn brother’s side. When CAO Cao is defeated in the Battle of the Red Cliff and flees from Huarong Path in panic, GUAN Yu keeps CAO Cao’s previous kindness in mind and sets free CAO Cao. After getting captured in Maicheng, GUAN Yu is unyielding and dies a heroic death despite the Kingdom of Wu persuading him to surrender.
Cast
GUAN Yu: LI Shujian
LIU Bei: LIU Xiaoguang
ZHANG Fei: LI Jinxi
CAO Cao: GAO Hongqi