Guan Xiaoping, once a Zhao Benshan protégé cast as Zhao Si in *Country Love*, was expelled from the Zhao Family Troupe. Undeterred, he built a stable life via live-streaming and a thriving local brewery.
Guan Xiaoping was one of the first Errenzhuan performers to study under Zhao Benshan. In his early years, he spent many years honing his craft in small theaters across Northeast China, where he played comic roles and developed a solid command of stage movement and facial expressions. When Zhao Benshan was preparing the first installment of *Rural Love*, he immediately recognized Guan’s natural talent and cast him as Zhao Si.As soon as the show aired, that vivid character—with his twitching mouth and swaying shoulders—instantly became a nationwide sensation. He was frequently recognized by fans while walking down the street, and invitations poured in nonstop. At the time, everyone felt he had found the most stable foundation for his acting career.
He
never expected that after just a couple of months of fame,the troupe suddenly notified him that he was to be suspended for three months. Most people would have rushed over to ask for an explanation and grovel for mercy, but he was too stubborn—he went straight home without saying a word. Later, he took on a commercial Errenzhuan performance out of town, which happened to cross the Zhao Troupe’s red line prohibiting members from taking outside gigs without permission.It wasn’t until the notice of his expulsion from the troupe arrived that he learned the role of Zhao Si had already been cast with someone else.
Back then, many in the industry claimed that without the backing of the Zhao Family Troupe, Guan Xiaoping would never be able to make a comeback. The commercial performances and invitations that people had previously been scrambling to secure for him truly vanished overnight, and he experienced firsthand the coldness and warmth of human relationships in the entertainment world.
He didn’t vent his frustrations or make excuses; instead, he immediately turned to his phone camera and started live-streaming to sell products. At the time, many people said he was desperate to make a quick buck, but he didn’t let it get to him.After saving up for several years, he went ahead and bought a small, struggling distillery in his hometown. From mixing the ingredients for brewing to fine-tuning the flavor of the finished liquor, and even running around to negotiate sales channels in person—he shouldered all the dirty and grueling work himself, gradually getting the distillery’s business back on track.
Today, Guan Xiaoping lives in a spacious house, and his distillery is thriving steadily, with annual shipments increasing year after year; he leads a stable and secure life.When the media interviewed him earlier and asked about being expelled from his master’s school all those years ago, he didn’t utter a single word of resentment. He simply said that back then, Zhao Benshan was willing to give an unknown Erzhuan performer the opportunity to appear on CCTV, and he would remember that act of recognition for the rest of his life.
When we’re young and struggling in the world, we’ve all had moments when we thought we’d found a stable foothold, only to have it vanish in the blink of an eye. The cold stares and disdain of others are commonplace; the hardship is real. But sitting around complaining and crying never helps—if you grit your teeth and plow forward step by step, you’ll always find a way.Don’t overthink the days
ahead—just keep moving forward steadily.
Back when the door to the Zhao Family Troupe slammed shut, everyone thought his life was over. But he didn’t wait to rely on anyone or any platform; he just kept his head down and forged his own path, and he still managed to shape his life exactly as he wanted.That’s just how ordinary people live their lives: don’t worry about what others say. Keep your feet steady and your hands busy, and you’ll always carve out a life that’s uniquely your own.
