The eldest sister fully displayed the innate qualities of Beijing locals, leaving Andrew Brooks utterly bewildered.

"Come on, do couples really need single rooms?" Brian Clark chimed in, joking along.

"You never know! People are getting wilder these days. Sometimes, even if they're not a couple, they still stay together. Are you here on a business trip?"

"Sort of..."

He leaned in and whispered, "Isn't the Dream of the Red Chamber crew casting right now? We're here for the audition."

"Oh!"

The eldest sister's eyes lit up as she sized them up again. "Not to brag, but this girl looks like she just walked out of a painting—she's sure to make it. And you, so tall, that's rare too."

What does that mean?

She looks like she walked out of a painting, but when it comes to me, all I have is my height. No wonder people always praise a talented man and a beautiful woman.

"Our single rooms are one yuan per night, no bathroom, and there just happen to be two left. Come take a look. It's fine if you decide not to stay."

The eldest sister led them through a maze-like layout, turning left and right as if in a tunnel warfare movie, then pushed open a small door. Inside was less than ten square meters, with just a wooden plank bed covered in a checkered sheet, and a wobbly table propped up with a brick.

Brian Clark glanced at Andrew Brooks for her opinion. She clearly wasn't thrilled, but still nodded. "Let's stay here."

So, the two of them registered and settled in.

Later, they met up in the room and took out their money to count. One had forty yuan and a few jin of general food coupons; the other had thirty yuan and also a few jin of food coupons.

"Together we have seventy. The return train tickets will cost over twenty, so we'll have a bit more than forty left. Since we're finally in Beijing, we should bring back some gifts."

He planned out their expenses and itinerary: "Let's go out for a meal, then head to the Overseas Chinese Mansion this afternoon. Depending on how things go, if we have time, we'll check out the department store. The day after tomorrow, we'll head back."

"Okay, I'll follow your lead."

Andrew Brooks was uncharacteristically obedient, because she was surprised to find that he was actually a great travel companion, and she couldn't help but feel a bit of trust toward him.

Chapter 6: The Audition

"Slurp, slurp!"

"Slurp, slurp!"

In a state-run restaurant, the two of them each hugged a big bowl, eating with their heads down, completely absorbed in their meal.

They hadn't eaten much on the train, and after arriving, they were busy finding a place to stay, so their stomachs were empty. Brian Clark ordered a jin of wontons—half a jin each. Don't underestimate half a jin; it's usually enough to fill you up.

"Whew!"

He finished a bowl, soup and all, smacked his lips, still not quite satisfied, and looked over at Andrew Brooks. She was blinking at him, still eating...

Alright, they were too conservative!

"Comrade, another half jin of wontons, please!"

Soon, two more big bowls were brought over, and they continued slurping away enthusiastically.

Finally full, he paid with food coupons, and they left, making their way to Wangfujing Street and finding the Overseas Chinese Mansion.

People coming and going were mostly compatriots from Hong Kong, Macau, and overseas Chinese—well-dressed, carrying a subtle air of pride and superiority. Suddenly, these two country bumpkins barged in, disrupting the whole scene and drawing attention wherever they went.

Of course, Room 714 was on the seventh floor. A sign on the door read, "Dream of the Red Chamber Preparatory Committee Office." Two teachers were inside, one surnamed Bai, the other Zhang. The director, Peter Smith, was not present.

As for the preparation process of Dream of the Red Chamber, it went roughly like this:

As early as 1979, Peter Smith visited the BBC to observe and learn, discovering that they had adapted many of their own classic literary works for television. Inspired, he proposed bringing Dream of the Red Chamber to the screen upon his return.

At the time, there was much debate at CCTV and among Redology scholars—some supported the idea, others opposed it. A deputy director at CCTV, surnamed Dai, played a key role. Thanks to his efforts and those of others, the project finally gained support from all sides.

However, although CCTV approved the project, they said there was no money. The Finance Department of the Ministry of Radio, Film and Television specially allocated five million yuan, which allowed the project to proceed.

See, that's just how CCTV operates—exactly like when they filmed Journey to the West!

So, in February this year, the preparatory committee was officially established. In May, the scriptwriting team was formed, consisting of Charles Harris, Edward Harris, and William Thompson.

Later, in December this year, the first draft of the script would be finalized. "People's X Daily" and "Guangming X Daily" were tracking the progress at all times, and the project had already sparked nationwide discussion.

Almost every day, people from all over the country came to recommend themselves, pestering the staff relentlessly. So the two teachers weren't surprised, and received the pair kindly, asking some questions—all about Dream of the Red Chamber.

After a brief chat, they agreed to meet again at nine o'clock the next morning to see the director.

...

"Whoosh, whoosh!"

"Whoosh, whoosh!"

Early the next morning, the girl stood on the hotel steps, holding a small umbrella and looking worried.

The whole of Beijing was shrouded in a sudden downpour. The air was thick with moisture, a light chill in the breeze. Pedestrians without umbrellas dashed by, and the occasional small car honked as it glided leisurely through the splashing water.

"How are we supposed to get there?"

"Let's just walk. Or should we take a cab?"

Brian Clark watched as a red Lada drove through the rain. The driver even slowed down a bit, then sped off with a teasing air.

No choice—ordinary citizens simply couldn't afford taxis, which were usually reserved for long-distance trips or picking up foreign guests. The drivers were all Party members, outstanding young people, and quite a few were children of high-ranking officials. The pay was excellent, and they got to meet pretty female guides and service staff.