{"id":3795,"date":"2023-07-07T21:25:17","date_gmt":"2023-07-07T13:25:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yzzks.com\/index.php\/2023\/07\/07\/%e5%8e%9f%e4%b8%8a%e8%8d%89%ef%bc%9a%e4%b8%80%e4%b8%aa%e8%8d%89%e6%a0%b9%e4%b9%90%e9%98%9f%e7%9a%84%e8%8d%a3%e4%b8%8e%e6%9e%af\/"},"modified":"2024-03-15T10:23:29","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T02:23:29","slug":"grasslands-the-rise-and-fall-of-a-grassroots-band","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yzzks.com\/en\/latest-news\/3795\/","title":{"rendered":"\"Grass on the Plain\": The Glory and Blight of a Grassroots Band"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:center;text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span style=\"line-height:1.5;\">Special Correspondent for This Magazine<\/span><span style=\"line-height:1.5;\">&nbsp; <\/span><span style=\"line-height:1.5;\">Wei Xing<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t\u201cThis is an age without faith; everything has become trivialized and vulgarized. No band is willing to make a living by busking on the streets, because, in reality, we all have to eat\u2014but the people at the bottom of society on the streets can\u2019t support them; they can\u2019t provide the nourishment and fertile ground they need.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:center;text-indent:2em;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tI\u2019ve tried to schedule an interview with Professor Luo several times, but plans never seem to keep up with changes. That\u2019s because he no longer has control over his own time:\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tlast year<span>4<\/span>In [month], he opened a studio on the second floor of the Shenzhen Musical Instrument Mall and began accepting<span>10<\/span>There are several students who are taking specialized training in the erhu. Since we\u2019re being paid, the training schedule is, of course, tailored to the students\u2019 needs.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>11<\/span>moon<span>8<\/span>That afternoon, we were chatting for a short while whenever we had a chance, when suddenly he glanced at his watch and said, \u201cOh no, it\u2019s almost (afternoon)\u2026\u201d<span>4<\/span>\u70b9<span>30<\/span>\u201dThat's it,\" he said. Then, with his erhu slung over his shoulder and his suitcase in tow, he hurried out the door, braving the wind. Outside, the chilly early-winter breeze of the south playfully ruffled the long, black-and-white strands of hair on his forehead.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tTeacher Luo, whose real name is Luo Hongjun, was a member of the former \u201cYuanshangcao Band,\u201d where he played the erhu.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tThe Grasslands Band is<span>2009<\/span>In [year], a band was formed spontaneously by street performers in Shenzhen; it was also the first band with a specific name, a fixed lineup, and regular performances at Shenzhen Civic Center.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tThe band members include: Chen Jizhao on the flute, Luo Hongjun on the erhu, Li Tao on lead guitar, Wei Yunfei on rhythm guitar and vocals, Wei Wei on bass and vocals, and drummers Xiao Zhibin and Chen Jinfei, among others.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tThe band consisted of members from different generations, with the oldest being Chen Jizhao, who was already<span>65<\/span>year-old seniors. Even the youngest ones\u2014Wei Wei, Chen Jinfei, and others\u2014are no older than<span>24<\/span>Age.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tThis band had never received formal, academic training; relying solely on their passion and dedication, they elevated their performance to new heights. The band was hugely popular among the public and enjoyed immense fame in Shenzhen. It can be said that the emergence of the Yuanshangcao Band has, to a certain extent, influenced the lifestyle of Shenzhen residents\u2014particularly those from the working class. In fact, \u201cattending Yuanshangcao Band concerts\u201d has become a way of life on par with \u201chiking and flying kites at Lianhua Mountain Park on weekends\u201d or \u201creading at the Central Book City.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tThat\u2019s also why this band appeared on CCTV. CCTV aired the program in two parts on its documentary channel.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tBut today, this band\u2014once a spiritual haven for the common people\u2014has long since vanished, leaving behind a series of questions that remain unresolved in this era.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:center;text-indent:2em;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<strong>\u201cThe Glory of \u201dMeadow Grass\u201d<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tThe name of the Yuanshangcao Band was chosen by Luo Hongjun, because he was the most educated among them; in the last century,<span>70<\/span>Back in the day, he attended high school. According to Luo Hongjun, \u201cAt the time, we just felt like we were a grassroots band\u2014a band with tremendous vitality. We could survive on just a single drop of dew. Even when faced with difficulties and setbacks, we\u2019d spring back to life like a plant reborn by the spring breeze.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>2009<\/span>Before the band Nian was formed, Luo Hongjun had already known Li Tao, Wei Yunfei, and others. On the streets and in the alleys of Shenzhen, they each made a living by playing the guitar, the erhu, or singing, earning tips from passersby.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tOf course, some of them didn\u2019t start out doing this for a living either; it was just a personal hobby. Take Wei Yunfei, for example: after leaving the military, he worked as a security guard in Shenzhen and played music and sang in his spare time to earn a little pocket money.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t\"<span>2007<\/span>Back then, when I was in Longhua, Bao\u2019an, and other places, I often saw Li Tao, Wei Yunfei, and Chen Jizhao playing together on the streets. \u201dWhen I was done with my work, I\u2019d go over and join them, but I didn\u2019t take any of their money\u2014I just did it for fun,\u201d Luo Hongjun told the reporter, describing these as their early, sporadic collaborations. After that, everyone wandered around singing here and there; they were apart more often than together and lost touch.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>2009<\/span>That year, Huaqiangbei was elevated to the status of a newly established subdistrict in Futian District. Subsequently, management in Huaqiangbei was tightened, and street vendors\u2014including Luo Hongjun\u2014were evicted by urban management officers. With nowhere else to go, Luo Hongjun, following a suggestion from others, went to Shenzhen Civic Center Plaza. There, he once again encountered Li Tao, Wei Yunfei, and Chen Jizhao.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tBecause they had worked together before, when Wei Yunfei invited Luo Hongjun to form a band with him, Luo Hongjun readily agreed. Later, as the lineup changed, drummers Xiao Zhibin, Chen Jinfei, and Wei Yunfei\u2019s younger brother, Wei Wei, joined the band one after another.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tAs soon as this band took the stage at Shenzhen Civic Center Plaza, their professional-level performance\u2014combining wind instruments, stringed instruments, and vocals\u2014quickly \u201ccaptivated\u201d passersby on the streets of Shenzhen. For some migrant workers who had spent a busy week in factories, watching their performance soothed their weary nerves and lifted the gloom brought on by the realities of their lives.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tBefore long, the band gained wave after wave of die-hard fans. When they performed in the square, if it suddenly started to rain, the fans would quickly rush to help move their equipment to shelter. Once the rain stopped, they\u2019d help bring everything back out. Some fans even became close friends with the band while helping out with these tasks, and some even ended up dating band members. Take Wei Yunfei, for example: his girlfriend started out as a fan named \u201cDandan\u201d (Dan Xueyuan), and later, \u201cDandan\u201d went on to become his wife.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tThe fans\u2019 loyalty was also evident when, after the band\u2019s instruments were confiscated by urban management officials and loaded onto a truck, the fans joined the band in retrieving them. When the band had trouble transporting their equipment, the fans pooled their money to buy them a used minivan.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tBusking allows each member of this band to earn<span>100-200<\/span>Income that varies from year to year. For these young people, having enough to drink and smoke\u2014and still having dreams\u2014is enough.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tOf course, for Luo Hongjun, there were some pressures in life at the time,<span>54<\/span>He is [age] years old and has two children currently attending college; their living expenses are primarily covered by the money he earns playing the erhu. Therefore, during the day\u2014when he isn\u2019t performing with the band at night\u2014he continues to play the erhu on the streets to earn more tips, in an effort to make up for the shortfall in income from the band.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tChen Jizhao was even older than Luo Hongjun; at that time,<span>65<\/span>At the age of [age], he wandered the streets playing music\u2014not to make a living, but to search for his daughter, who had run away from home years earlier. He longed for the day when his daughter would hear the sound of his flute and come running to throw herself into his arms, but that hope has remained unfulfilled to this day.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tThe Yuanshangcao Band is widely recognized. In Shenzhen, it is customary and considered a mark of good taste for ordinary families to take their guests to see the Yuanshangcao Band perform when they have visitors.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tHowever, as its popularity grew, more and more bands and performers began gathering at Shenzhen Civic Center, and urban management officials arrived. At that time, maintaining urban order versus protecting street culture and the arts became the focal point of a standoff between the two sides, sparking widespread media attention and ongoing coverage. This time, both government officials and ordinary citizens began to reflect on the value and significance of street art.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tA city cannot consist solely of \u201chigh-end\u201d concert halls and grand theaters that ordinary citizens cannot afford; it should also feature street performances and art that cater to the needs of different social classes, because even those at the bottom of society have a need for cultural enrichment.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tAs a result of this power struggle, the authorities have tacitly accepted and tolerated their existence.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:center;text-indent:2em;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<strong>Behind the Glory<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tDuring those golden days, the Grass Band\u2019s acoustic performances\u2014which always struck a chord with ordinary people\u2014drew large crowds of city residents who stopped to watch, many of whom were regulars year after year.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tHowever, anyone familiar with this band knows that behind their moving performances lies their background in the working class and their deep understanding of the realities of life in that community. As a result, they are able to seamlessly weave their own experiences and emotions into their music and perform with complete passion.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tFor example, Wei Yunfei<br \/>\n; the Wei brothers, Wei Wei and his brother, who work as security guards in Shenzhen, leading humble lives; or Chen Jizhao and guitarist Li Tao, who wander from place to place, experiencing all the ups and downs of life; or take Luo Hongjun, for instance, who, to pay for his children\u2019s tuition, spent his early years at street food stalls waiting for customers to request songs\u2014some of whom, after drinking, would act out or even refuse to pay, and he even nearly got beaten up\u2026 The performers\u2019 deep empathy for the plight of those at the bottom of society allowed their long-suppressed emotions to be fully unleashed through their street performances.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t\u201cA rich array of experiences is the key to a band\u2019s ability to captivate an audience,\u201d Luo Hongjun told a reporter. When he returned home for the Lunar New Year, he deliberately spent money lavishly or acted carefree in front of his children\u2014but in reality, he was merely putting on a brave face. \u201cAs a father and a man, I\u2019m actually quite vulnerable inside, and I shed tears when faced with difficulties. \u201dStriving to succeed really isn\u2019t that easy,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tBefore joining the band, Luo Hongjun used to play at street food stalls in Bao'an, Shenzhen. Once, a customer ordered<span>8<\/span>Let him play the first piece. We had agreed beforehand that for each piece\u2014<span>10<\/span>yuan; the minimum is per song<span>5<\/span>yuan, but the other person's friend only gave<span>20<\/span>yuan. Luo Hongjun was standing by the table, waiting for the person who had requested the song to explain himself, when\u2014fueled by alcohol\u2014the other man\u2019s friend suddenly sprang to his feet and charged toward Luo Hongjun<span>50<\/span>The old man, who was in his [age]s, was about to be slapped hard across the face. Fortunately, he dodged the blow just in time, but the slap struck his erhu instead, sending its scroll, tuning pegs, and other parts scattering all over the floor\u2026\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tLuo Hongjun bent down and silently picked it up, a wave of humiliation and anger washing over him all at once. \u201cBut what can I do? I\u2019m no match for young people.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tThis wasn\u2019t the only time something like this happened. On one occasion, someone even threw his speaker into a stinking ditch. \u201cYou know how smelly the ditches in Shenzhen are,\u201d Luo Hongjun said. Later, he found a ladder and climbed down into the ditch to retrieve it. \u201cThe mud in the ditch was more than ten centimeters deep\u2014it stank to high heaven.\u201d However, after rinsing it off, the speaker actually still worked! Now, when he talks about this incident, Luo Hongjun actually feels he was \u201cpretty lucky.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tCompared to Luo Hongjun, Chen Jizhao\u2019s experience was even more tragic: when his wife betrayed him, she swindled him out of his money.<span>40<\/span>She ran off with another man, taking tens of thousands of yuan with her; his daughter ran away from home and has been missing for years; and his adopted daughter fell ill and died on the train while they were searching for his biological daughter... That is why, whenever people hear Chen Jizhao\u2019s flute playing, it always sounds so heart-wrenching\u2014mournful, plaintive, and full of longing and sorrow.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tPrecisely because of the many harrowing experiences they\u2019ve endured as people from humble backgrounds, their insights into life and the emotions they evoke while performing are naturally and quickly stirred and drawn upon. As Luo Hongjun put it, \u201cThe experiences and memories of these past years can be woven into the sound of my instrument, where they find full expression.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tThat is why the music of the Yuan Shang Cao Band resonates so deeply with people. These are the little-known stories and experiences behind this legendary band. Of course, as musicians, they did not willingly \u201cendure\u201d or \u201caccept\u201d these difficult experiences for the sake of their music.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t\u201cThose were days when idealism ran high, days of friendships and passion more precious than gold, but we can never go back, nor do we want to,\u201d<span>11<\/span>moon<span>6<\/span>On that day, Wei Yunfei told a reporter, \u201cThis is an age devoid of faith; everything has become trivialized and vulgarized. No band is willing to make a living by busking on the streets, because, realistically, we all have to eat\u2014but the people at the bottom of society on the streets can\u2019t support us; they can\u2019t provide the nourishment and fertile ground we need.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tAs the band\u2019s core members were gradually forced to leave by the demands of real-life survival, their departure became their most helpless choice. At that point, phrases like \u201ccarrying on the tradition of folk and ethnic classical music\u201d could only be set aside, and disbandment became the final fate of the Yuan Shang Cao Band\u2014that day was<span>2013<\/span>surname Nian<span>7<\/span>moon<span>10<\/span>On that day, Shenzhen was still sweltering in the summer heat, but the band Yuan Shang Cao was withering and fading away in the \u201cbitterly cold\u201d climate of survival.<span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span><br \/>\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:center;text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span><br \/>\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span style=\"line-height:1.5;\"><strong>Decline and the Current Situation<\/strong><\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span style=\"line-height:1.5;\"><br \/>\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tThe band \"Yuan Shang Cao\" has now disbanded.<span>3<\/span>It\u2019s been over a year, but some of their former fans still often seek out the band members to pour out their hearts and express their longing for those days. However, due to the paradox of survival, this grassroots band can only let the past live on in their memories\u2014\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>2011<\/span>Around the Lunar New Year was once the time when this band was most frequently driven away by a joint effort of urban management and cultural authorities, but thanks to media attention, the efforts and perseverance of the Yuan Shangcao Band finally secured them a foothold at Shenzhen Civic Center Plaza, where they now have a venue of their own to perform.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tThe performance space they fought for with wit and courage certainly doesn\u2019t belong solely to the band Yuan Shang Cao. The authorities\u2019 tacit approval and tolerance also mean that all of Shenzhen\u2019s independent street performers\u2014represented by the band Yuan Shang Cao\u2014now have a stage on which to perform.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tAt this time, street performers who make their living this way, as well as music enthusiasts from well-off families, all gathered at Shenzhen Civic Center Plaza to perform. As a result, dozens of performance groups\u2014comprising over a hundred street performers\u2014gathered there; they earned a living, put on shows, and shared in the voluntary tips from citizens.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tAs a result, no one can make ends meet. For bands that aren\u2019t under financial pressure and play mainly for fun, this isn\u2019t a big deal, but for groups that rely on this for a living, they face severe financial pressure: The Yuan Shang Cao Band used to earn per person per night<span>100-200<\/span>Their income, which had been in the yuan, plummeted to just a few dozen yuan. During those difficult times, the band\u2019s drummer, Chen Jinfei, even had to go home to get money to make ends meet.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>11<\/span>moon<span>6<\/span>On that day, Wei Yunfei told reporters frankly that the direct reason for his departure and the band\u2019s breakup was that they were \u201ctoo poor.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>2013<\/span>surname Nian<span>5<\/span>That month, lead singer Wei Wei was the first to leave the band. He no longer wanted to live such a struggling life, so he set off alone for Lijiang, Yunnan\u2014a paradise where the bohemian set and white-collar workers gather and enjoy themselves.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>2<\/span>A few months later, Wei Wei\u2014who felt he was doing quite well in Lijiang\u2014invited his older brother, Wei Yunfei, and his future sister-in-law, \u201cDandan,\u201d to join him there. The three of them, along with a drummer, formed a band and worked as a house band and singers in Lijiang\u2019s bars, catering specifically to the middle class\u2014including the bohemian set and white-collar workers\u2014and no longer willing to perform on the streets.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tUnable to find suitable replacements, the Original Shangcao Band was forced to disband. Chen Jizhao later went to Hong Kong. Some time later, he returned to Shenzhen to meet up with Luo Hongjun. Luo Hongjun said he wanted to treat him to a meal, but in the blink of an eye, he was gone. Later still, Wei Yunfei heard that Chen Jizhao had returned to his hometown in Chongqing after years of fruitless searching for his daughter. Others, such as Chen Jinfei and Li Tao, joined and left various new bands one after another. They performed at commercial events\u2014such as real estate promotions and bar gigs\u2014in cities across the Pearl River Delta, and from then on, they no longer busked on the streets. As for the later drummer, Xiao Zhibin, he withdrew completely from the music industry and faded into obscurity within the scene.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tSince then, only Luo Hongjun has continued to perform on the streets and accept tips, though this has continued only until this year.<span>4<\/span>There have been some new developments this month: He rented a studio in Shenzhen's Musical Instrument City to teach others how to play the erhu, and currently has<span>10<\/span>Multiple people. \u201cCharges per class\u201d<span>100-200<\/span>\u201dYuan.\u201c Luo Hongjun did not disclose the actual revenue figures to reporters, but he said, \u201dThe market has great potential.\"\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tOn regular weekdays, Luo Hongjun stays at his studio teaching students to play the piano. Most of these students come from middle-class families; some are stay-at-home moms, while others are children from middle-class families.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tHowever, on weekends, Luo Hongjun still tries to perform at Civic Center Plaza as much as possible, because it serves as a form of advertising and a showcase for his studio when recruiting students\u2014functioning much like a \u201cfront shop, back workshop\u201d setup.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tWhy leave Shenzhen for Lijiang? Wei Yunfei says that Shenzhen is a city with severe economic polarization; for poor people who work hard just to make ends meet, it\u2019s very difficult to get them to spend money, while the wealthy prefer to attend performances at concert halls or grand theaters rather than enjoy street performances. Lijiang, on the other hand, is a hub for the bohemian white-collar crowd. Here, their intentions are clear: to spend money, have fun, and listen to music in bars. So here, \u201cpeople like Wei Yunfei\u201d can find fertile ground to make a living.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\tWei Yunfei didn\u2019t reveal his exact current income either, but he said, \u201cNow that I\u2019m a resident singer at a bar, my income is worlds apart from what it used to be!\u201d He said that now, whenever he arrives at the airport, all it takes is one phone call, and a boss or friend comes to pick him up. Back in his hometown, he\u2019s even built a two-story house for his mother\u2026 The spirit of those days is still worth cherishing, but it\u2019s not a past he\u2019s eager to revisit\u2014\u201cBack then, even though we looked really cool on the streets, when we went home, we\u2019d often just eat noodles or munch on steamed buns.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t<span>&nbsp;<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent:2em;\">\n\t\u201cIt\u2019s only when you\u2019re truly facing difficulties that you can see who\u2019s there to help you,\u201d said Wei Yunfei. Reality forced him, step by step, to face the facts.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u672c\u520a\u7279\u7ea6\u8bb0\u8005&nbsp; \u97e6\u661f \u201c\u8fd9\u662f\u4e00\u4e2a\u6ca1\u6709\u4fe1\u4ef0\u7684<span class=\"excerpt-hellip\"> [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":9,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3795","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-latest-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yzzks.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3795","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yzzks.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yzzks.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yzzks.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yzzks.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3795"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.yzzks.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3795\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8303,"href":"https:\/\/www.yzzks.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3795\/revisions\/8303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yzzks.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3795"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yzzks.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3795"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yzzks.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3795"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}