Chapter 136 - The Difficulty of Getting One Live Ticket! (2/2)

“Leave it to me.” Zhang Ye took a sip before leading Chenchen by her hand to the recording studio.

The recording was starting soon.

The audience had gradually entered the set.

Zhang Ye was testing the microphone onstage, when he noticed a few people walking in. They were the Arts Channel’s several Leaders, including the Director, w.a.n.g Shuixin. He had actually come to observe the recording.

Hu Fei went forward to welcome him, “Director.”

w.a.n.g Shuixin sat down with the others and said, “Carry on, Old Hu. We are here today as audience members. We just want to have a look; you don’t need to be bothered by us.”

Hu Fei was not bothered, “Okay, then we will do our work.”

Today, there were many colleagues from the television station. They took up a fifth of the seats in the studio. Some of them really liked the program, while the others were instructed by the Leaders to observe and learn. After all, the preliminary rating for “Lecture Room” was too surprising; the first episode hit 7.8%. With such success, there was definitely something worth learning here.

There were many people.

So many pairs of eyes.

These included the colleagues of the television station and their Leaders.

Zhang Ye could feel a little pressure, but it wasn’t much. It did not affect him too much, because he had the mental strength and he was never afraid of being onstage!

It was almost time.

Zhang Ye went to the camera and pulled Chenchen, who was curiously listening to what the cameraman was saying, to the audience seats. He carried her up, placed her on a chair and instructed her, “Sit still. When Uncle is recording, don’t move or run around. Understood?”

Chenchen impatiently nodded, “Understood.”

This child… Sometimes, she made people worried. But most times, she was the most rea.s.suring child, because little Chenchen was different from children her age. She was more mature and knew how to behave, even if you didn’t tell her.

Zhang Ye went onto the stage, a.s.sured.

Hu Fei said, “Teacher Zhang, are you ready?”

Zhang Ye habitually signalled a number 1 with his finger. This was a habit from the days of being a radio host at the radio station. It was a way of communication to say it was time for a recording or live broadcast in the radio station.

“Alright. Everyone, on cue. 3, 2, 1, start!”

Zhang Ye was very professional. After all, he was a graduate from the broadcast major. He had no expression at first. But once the cameras started rolling, his face wore a big smile, “h.e.l.lo, everyone. Welcome to today’s ‘Lecture Room’. I am Zhang Ye. Last episode, I read a melody poem for everyone. It was very well received, especially the part ‘With humor he helped see to that the masts and sculls of Wei’s navy go up in smoke and ashes turn into’, that had received many positive remarks. It highlighted Zhou Yu’s coolness. Yes, actually many of the quotes from any literary person are unreliable.”

A few people smiled.

Zhang Ye was self-deprecating about his words, and said, “‘With humor he helped see to that the masts and sculls of Wei’s navy go up in smoke and ashes turn into’, this was a little exaggerated. He wasn’t that cool; it’s only my artistic polis.h.i.+ng that made him so. Likewise, Cao Cao had also been artistically polished into a more complex character. Today, we will be speaking about him. When we mention Cao Cao, there are at least three perceptions of him. First, as a hero. Second, as an arch-careerist. Third, as a traitor. So, which one was the most accurate depiction him?”

Which was the most accurate?

Cao Cao was definitely a traitor or an arch-careerist! Were there still any doubts?

Zhang Ye’s question had piqued the curiosity of everyone. They were wondering what Zhang Ye would say now.

Zhang Ye continued on, “People say that Cao Cao was wicked. A lot of people do not like him. During the times of Northern Song, Cao Cao was already an unpopular person. So why was he unpopular? Everyone knew that Cao Cao had famously said this before, ‘I’d rather do wrong to others, than have others do wrong on me’, What did this mean? This was simply saying that he would rather be the one doing wrong to everyone than to have anyone do any wrong to him. To have had said this, this person must have been really wicked. That was why people hated Cao Cao. Now, let us clear this up as to whether this was the truth.”

The audience stirred.

What? How can that not be the truth?

F**k, yesterday you had just vindicated Zhou Yu, then took off Zhuge Liang’s halo. Today, you want to vindicate Cao Cao, too? But Cao Cao’s case has already been judged! How can there still be disputes? Those words were said by him. If he could have said it, how could he have been a good person?

w.a.n.g Shuixin frowned; he hated Cao Cao very much too.

A lot of colleagues from the television station also looked at each other, waiting for Zhang Ye to continue on.

Zhang Ye said, “On this matter, there are some contradictions in the records of history books. It was likely due to Dong Zhuo’s persecution that led to Cao Cao fleeing from the capital. While fleeing, he came across an old friend’s house. This old friend was called Lu Boshe and he was involved in the tragedy when Cao Cao killed him and his family. There are three versions of this incident. The first one was……” After saying that, Zhang Ye a.n.a.lyzed, “Actually, Cao Cao did not mean to kill them or had killed them wrongly. When they died, Cao Cao was very sad, too. Sigh, what’s done is done. Saying he’d rather do wrong to others than have others do wrong on him… So let us look at the situational a.n.a.lysis of this. Cao Cao likely said this as a form of self-comfort, to put the blame on himself for the mistake he had made. But when it was presented in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he said that with a sense of self-righteousness. In fact, Cao Cao’s original words were not as everyone had known it.”

Oh?

What were his actual words?

It’s not this? Really not?

Zhang Ye slowly explained, “Cao Cao’s original words were ‘I’d rather have done wrong, than have others be wronged.’ But this was changed in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, where he was implied to be self-centered. This would have made the difference; Cao Cao said those words for that particular situation. Since they were dead, nothing could be done to make up for it. He could only admit that he was in the wrong, rather than let them die under the guise that he was right to kill them. This showed a certain kindness in him. Therefore, from this matter, it could be said that most people’s impressions of him are questionable.”

“Moving on to the tolerance of Cao Cao…..”

“Cao Cao’s will was written as such…..”

“So I believe that the evaluation of Cao Cao’s should be summed up in these three words — a lovable arch-careerist! Why a lovable arch-careerist though? Please stay tuned to the next episode, “The Mystery of the Arch-Careerist”!

Zhang Ye finished with a bow.

As this moment, everyone erupted into applause!

It was the same reaction as the first episode. This time, all the audience had also stood up. Bba bba bba bba! The applause was all for Zhang Ye!

What a cute “lovable arch-careerist”!

So Cao Cao was actually not as they had known him to be!

This condemned traitor had such a side to him!

Everyone were hooked on listening to the lecture. A few of the audience members rushed up to Zhang Ye for autographs when the recording was done. They liked his program very much and were very impressed by Zhang Ye’s knowledge!

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