Source: CCTV.com

11-13-2008 13:44

By 2006, things had changed at the Zhengfeng Opera Society.

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The Zhengfeng Opera Society had been in existence for 17 years. Even though it was well known locally, it was attracting fewer and fewer members. As a result, the Zhengfeng Opera Society was facing severe difficulties.

Yang Lina, at seven years old, was the youngest student in the Opera Society.

The boy in the right of the picture was, ten years before, Teacher Wang's youngest student. His name is Tiancai.

Ten years before, in the winter of 1997, Tiancai was only 13 years old. He was the only boy in the Zhengfeng Opera Society.

At the time, Wang Tianli was planning to leave, having been there for seven years.

The Opera Society was preparing for a performance, and was trying to recall all its old performers, who had left. Since they were all living, scattered in the neighbouring villages, and there was no telephone available, Teacher Wang asked Tiancai to take his bike and inform everybody.

Tiancai got back after dark. He'd been riding his bike for over 50 kilometers.

Even though Tiancai wasn't very clear about what it meant to be a successor, he recognized that Teacher Wang was being nice to him. After their talk, he began to accept more responsibilities.

The Opera Society accepted three new boys. 20. Tiancai became more hard-working.