অধ্যায় একশো পঁয়তাল্লিশ: নামকরণ পরিবর্তন

দুpCure Shantiu, Tiana can be read, and he can write about registration in the commercial bureau and the culture bureau, and he can read it together. She understands the inside story and knows how to register.

He Xiangdong was naturally happy to do so. Tian Jiani said she understood, and she wasn't bragging; she began to display the demeanor of a modern, outstanding woman right behind the scenes.

She said there were only three people in the entire garden, so they shouldn't register a company just yet. Otherwise, they would have to hire a dedicated accountant to split the accounts, and yearly reporting and approvals would be too troublesome. A company is a legal entity, pays value-added tax, and handling things across the board would be very complicated. She suggested registering a partnership instead. This pays personal income tax, carries unlimited joint and several liability, and internal management is governed by the partnership agreement, making it very simple to handle. Once there were more people and the business grew larger later on, it wouldn't be too late to establish a company.

The three people behind the scenes were utterly dumbfounded. These individuals were all passionate about art and didn't quite understand the ins and outs. Although Zhang Wenhai had done business before, back then it was like picking things up off the ground; it was nothing like the registration and paperwork required now. Instantly, the three of them looked upon Tian Jiani as if she were a celestial being and immediately let her take charge.

Tian Jiani started writing the partnership agreement right there behind the scenes. These individuals were all particularly casual and free-spirited, and none of them had any objections. The profit-sharing ratios were also split evenly—well, actually, there were no profits to split yet, as they were still operating at a loss. It was just a matter of writing down the amount invested by each person and including the other essential clauses.

That same afternoon, Tian Jiani accompanied He Xiangdong to the industrial and commercial bureau to register. However, a disagreement arose when choosing the registered name.

Tian Jiani looked at He Xiangdong and said, "Do you really want to use the name Xiangjia?"

He Xiangdong smiled and said, "Yeah, didn't we decide on that from the beginning? Hey, isn't it just a name? We could call it Ah Mao or Ah Gou, or if that doesn't work, 'Old King's Crosstalk Club'."

Tian Jiani said, "Stop joking, I'm being serious."

He Xiangdong also reined in his smile and said, "In our crosstalk profession, the performer preserves the art, not the art preserving the performer. The actor's skill must be top-notch. Look at some crosstalk actors on TV begging a screenwriter to give them a funny script, and then they get famous. If that person stops writing for them later, they're finished. That can't be considered doing real crosstalk. When Teacher Zhang and my martial uncle suggested this name, that was precisely the meaning behind it—to let me return to the essence of crosstalk and avoid superficial gimmicks."

Tian Jiani said, "Then don't include my name in it. I'm not a member of your garden. The two old gentlemen just said it casually back then, but we can't actually use it now that we're registering."

He Xiangdong also smiled and said, "You're the major shareholder of our garden, and you even gave us twenty thousand yuan. Just consider it buying... naming rights. Yes, naming rights."

"This is considered a loan, it has to be paid back, and interest has to be calculated." Tian Jiani rolled her eyes in an elegant manner and continued, "Teacher Zhang and my martial uncle are both very carefree and easygoing people, but you can't be like that."

He Xiangdong was startled and said, "I don't understand."

Tian Jiani was almost left speechless. She said, "You were quite quick-witted when you were a kid; why are you getting more and more foolish as you grow up? From the time you learned your craft and grew up until now, who has helped you the most? Without a doubt, the first person is your master, my uncle Fang, right?"

He Xiangdong nodded and continued to listen.

Tian Jiani continued, "And then there's the founding of this crosstalk garden. Although it's not much right now, this is indeed your first career, isn't it? Who has been helping and supporting you all along the way? It's the two elderly gentlemen, Fan Wenquan and Zhang Wenhai. They haven't taken a single penny from you. Instead of living out their retirement days in peace, they both came over to help and support you. Now that the rent has gone up, they took out their retirement savings to make up the difference. We cannot forget this kindness."

He Xiangdong explained, "I, He Xiangdong, am not a heartless person. Of course I remember the kindness shown to me by the two gentlemen and my master. I will remember it for the rest of my life, and I will certainly do my best to repay it, but that has nothing to do with the name of the crosstalk club."

Tian Jiani smiled, poked He Xiangdong with her finger, and said, "Now you're getting anxious. I didn't say you were heartless. My point is that our crosstalk club will definitely develop and grow in the future. When the day comes that we become famous, and everyone asks how the name 'Xiangjia Club' came about, you can't just tell people that our old master thought of it on the spur of the moment. That wouldn't sound right. Nowadays, enterprises and companies emphasize image and culture, and our traditional industry should all the more incorporate the philosophy of respecting teachers and valuing the Dao. Let's add a character from the old gentlemen's names—let's call it 'Xiangwen Club'."

He Xiangdong thought about it and felt that what Tian Jiani said made sense. He said, "What you said is right, but even if we add the character, it shouldn't be placed after mine. I'm a junior; how about we call it 'Wenxiang Club' instead?"

Tian Jiani said, "Wenxiang Club? Sounds like mosquito-repellent incense. There's a reason for putting your name first. The old master is getting on in years, and you are the pillar of the family. Moreover, I believe that with your skill, you will surely become a mainstay in the crosstalk profession in the future. If you are the mainstay, you must be able to stand up—stand up under the pressure of several layers of buildings. If you don't dare to step forward, no matter how thick and hard your piece of wood is, it's still just a piece of wood."

"And this character 'Xiang' also means 'to miss' or 'to think of', reminding you to always remember others' kindness towards you, to remember the sacrifices the older generation made for you. A person must never forget their roots. This will be the family style of our Xiangwen Club from now on. When you take on disciples in the future, you can explain the meaning of these three characters—Xiangwen Club—to them, so they will be conscientious people who never forget their roots."

He Xiangdong listened very attentively. The look in his eyes as he looked at Tian Jiani had completely changed; she truly was becoming more and more virtuous. He said, "Alright, in the future, I will tell my apprentices that this is the reasoning taught by their master's wife."

"Get out of here." Tian Jiani kicked He Xiangdong on the calf.

The year 1996 was about to pass. Several major events occurred in the crosstalk world this year, which had a huge impact on the community.

The first event was the 1996 Spring Festival Gala. This gala featured four crosstalk programs, gathering famous crosstalk masters who presented four complete, substantial routines in a grand lineup. A crowd of famous masters went head-to-head with Zhao Lirong, but unfortunately suffered a crushing defeat.

These four crosstalk pieces had long since been submerged in the tides of history, or rather, nobody remembered them after the Chinese New Year. Meanwhile, Zhao Lirong's "The Worker's Adventure" was still being rebroadcast twenty years later, pursued and adored by countless people.

The head-to-head battle between crosstalk and sketches suffered another defeat, making their situation even more perilous.

The second event was the establishment of the first private crosstalk troupe since the founding of the People's Republic—Xiangjia Club, now renamed Xiangwen Club, which drew back the curtain on "returning crosstalk to the theater."

The third event took place in Tianjin. In 1996, the Tianjin Radio and Television Society and the Tianjin Radio and Television Art Development Center began jointly recording the "Collection of Chinese Traditional Crosstalk."