Chen Pingjiang's birthday was on August 5th, and this year marked his 20th birthday.
The two families gathered together.
Yan Liming and Chen Guangming became fishing buddies, and Li Yuhua and Xu Fangjuan also occasionally went shopping together.
Early the next morning, the six family members, along with Li Fu, boarded a plane to BJ.
The Olympic opening ceremony was a must-see!
He didn't achieve this wish in his last life, so he would fulfill his dream in this one.
After entering August, Olympic news overshadowed everything.
Entertainment gossip and financial news all took a back seat.
Renren.com reaped significant benefits from this wave.
As the largest SNS website in China, the frequency of interaction was quite exaggerated, especially after many popular Olympic medal contenders joined Renren.com, which further pushed up the popularity.
The remaining Baidu Tieba could not compare at all.
Now, people were constantly reposting some popular comments from foreign websites onto Renren.com.
Most athletes from other countries genuinely felt positively about BJ.
However, there were also some discordant voices.
"Honestly, I think the variety of food at the Olympics is simple and the taste is not good, completely incomparable to our country's kimchi. It made me pack a lot of instant noodles."
"Agreed, our Korean kimchi is the best in the world."
"The food at the Athletes' Village restaurant is not very tasty. The night I arrived in BJ, I didn't eat there."
"Only the meat is beautifully presented, but there's no real value. It seems Chinese people can't cook."
"..."
Then the tone shifted to people all over the world collectively flaming Koreans.
"Athletes from other countries all think the food is excellent, why are you the only ones with so many complaints?"
"A country that can't even afford watermelon is mocking another country with vast land and abundant resources? I think some people's bodies are the most honest."
"There are over 100 dishes here, including Chinese, Asian flavors, pizza, pasta, and salads, with nothing to complain about. To maintain my weight, I have to control myself from eating too much."
"I was surprised to see reports of Korean athletes being unhappy with the Athletes' Village food."
"You can only eat army stew fished out of a swill bucket and corn cobs that even pigs wouldn't eat. Oh, and various kimchi, of course."
"Korean athletes are thieves. Every time a pile of watermelons appears, they pack them up and take them away, even bringing many back to their dorms to eat."
"Pigs can't appreciate fine bran!"
Chen Pingjiang, quite unethically, stickied the post about the related video news on Renren.com.
The popularity of the Olympic Games far exceeded imagination; tickets sold out as soon as they went on sale.
Many people became volunteers because they couldn't buy tickets, and the total number of volunteers eventually reached over 70,000.
Fortunately, General Manager Chen had special channels, so getting a few opening ceremony tickets was easy.
Don't even think about the VIP area; that's where the big bosses from various countries were.
...
During the day on the 7th and 8th, Chen Pingjiang took the elders to visit various attractions in BJ.
Originally, the rain was threatening but didn't fall, and the weather was unusually stuffy and anxious.
Finally, it was said that the meteorological department launched 1104 rain-prevention rockets to disperse clouds and clear the rain.
At 3 PM on the 8th, everyone went to queue at the Bird's Nest.
Although it was only 3 o'clock, a long line had already formed.
Chen Pingjiang held Yan Yan's hand, and the two, wearing matching couple T-shirts and identical sunglasses, followed the large crowd closely.
Although it was quite stuffy and the sun was scorching, Chen Pingjiang's heart was surging with excitement.
The BJ Olympics was a significant chapter in Chinese history.
The successful hosting of the Olympic Games brought China to the world stage, giving Chinese people stronger national self-confidence, and young people began to view Western media from a relatively equal perspective, developing a stronger sense of national identity.
How many years of longing were fulfilled in one day, and how many people's efforts were behind it.
It was said that the Bird's Nest could accommodate 90,000 people, but in reality, there were probably no fewer than 150,000 people present.
Many people watched the queuing crowd enviously because they didn't have tickets for the opening ceremony.
Red flags were flying everywhere, and everyone held mascots.
"I want Nini, give it to me."
Yan Yan smiled as she picked and chose from Chen Pingjiang's arms.
It wasn't until almost six o'clock that Chen Pingjiang and the others successfully passed ticket checks and entered the venue.
Ninety thousand people in one space, what an immense sight that must be.
Chen Pingjiang, a bumpkin, had never watched a live ball game and only felt that the scene before him was too shocking.
Everyone was holding a DV to film.
Although he had watched the opening ceremony performance many times in videos, it felt quite different when he was sitting there again in person.
After the leaders entered.
The performance officially began!
In the center of the stadium, with strong, powerful strikes, 2008 ancient Chinese percussion instruments, Fǒu, emitted soul-stirring sounds.
White lights on the Fǒu lit up sequentially, forming countdown numbers.
The scene initially erupted in surprised cheers, with shouts of "Awesome!" everywhere.
Amidst the thunderous sounds of the Fǒu, the entire audience loudly cheered along with the changing numbers,
3...
2...
1...
At this moment, the countdown was not only happening in the Bird's Nest.
It was also in Mohe in the northernmost part, Fuyuan in the easternmost part, Zengmu Ansha in the southernmost part, and Kashi in the western part.
People across the country, watching on TV and online, counted down together loudly.
Amidst cheers, the moment for the official start of the opening ceremony arrived: exactly 8 PM. 2008 performers struck the Fǒu and sang, reciting "Isn't it a joy to have friends come from afar?", expressing welcome to Olympic athletes and guests from all over the world.
However, it was a slight pity that Chen Pingjiang, being inside the Bird's Nest, couldn't see the "Big Footprints" outside the stadium.
Eight flag bearers held the national flag horizontally, solemnly displaying it.
Seven-year-old girl Yang Peiyi sang "Song of the Motherland," and Lin Miaoke performed on stage.
Amidst the familiar and melodious singing, 56 children dressed in ethnic costumes walked around the national flag, representing China's 56 ethnic groups as one family.
Yes, the one who truly sang was Yang Peiyi; Lin Miaoke only lip-synced.
Originally, the directing team intended for both of them to sing on stage together, but unfortunately, Yang Peiyi had a missing front tooth, so only Lin Miaoke could perform.
This story tells us that being good-looking is more important than being capable.
"Lao Mouzi is still amazing!"
Chen Pingjiang exclaimed while clapping.
He glanced left and right and saw that the adults from both families were watching with great interest, never taking their eyes off.
Lao Mouzi's films were getting worse and worse, and harder and harder for people to understand.
But as a director for dramas, galas, and sports events, he was still incredible.
What also deeply impressed Chen Pingjiang was "Impression Liu Sanjie," a large-scale live-action performance set in the landscapes of Guilin.
Everyone who saw it would give it a thumbs up.
The performance officially began.
First, the Four Treasures of the Study – brush, ink, paper, and inkstone – representing Chinese civilization appeared, slowly depicting a magnificent pattern.
When the huge scroll on the ground slowly unfolded, everyone present was deeply awed.
"Ancient Music," the Four Great Inventions, Chinese characters, and opera — China's splendid culture was magically displayed.
Amidst the melodious music, a caravan and map of the Silk Road from over 2000 years ago appeared on the long scroll.
Thousands of sailors, holding huge yellow oars, formed a massive fleet, recreating the grandeur of Zheng He's voyages to the Western Seas.
To the sound of music, giant oars fluttered, the sea and sky merged, amidst towering waves, two fleets danced like giant dragons, and the entire audience cheered like a surging tide.
Writing, opera, the Silk Road, rites and music.
Starlight, nature, blue planet, dreams.
Constituting a powerful cultural output.
That's why people say the BJ Olympics was the best ever; perhaps only the next Olympics hosted domestically could surpass it.
"You and me, heart to heart, living in the same global village."
"For dreams, traveling a thousand li, meeting in BJ."
"..."
After Sarah Brightman and Liu Huan emotionally sang the theme song "You and Me," it was time for the athletes' entry ceremony.
At 21:10:19, the athletes' parade began.
Bands reflecting the styles of the world's five continents took turns playing classic melodies from different continents.
The Greek team ranked first, and the Chinese team ranked last.
By the time it was the Chinese team's turn to enter, it was already 11:09 PM.
The entry ceremony had lasted exactly two hours.
When Yao Ming appeared, he hadn't yet taken Xiao Linhao's hand.
Finally, a staff member pulled Xiao Linhao to run a few steps and brought him to Yao Ming's side.
Nine-year-old Xiao Linhao, undaunted in danger, rushed into the ruins to rescue classmates and was hailed as a young hero in earthquake relief.
The Chinese people's perseverance and indomitable spirit in the face of disaster deeply moved Chinese and foreign audiences alike.
Thunderous applause and continuous cheers erupted in the stands, and shouts of "Go China!" echoed through the stadium.
With a resounding voice, it was announced: "The 29th Olympic Games in BJ are open!"
Immediately, brilliant fireworks bloomed in the night sky, exhilarating melodies resounded throughout the venue, colorful flags waved, and cheers continued endlessly.
At 12 AM, Li Ning, running through the air, arrived at the torch tower and lit the fuse.
The huge torch immediately erupted in a towering flame, and the fiercely burning Olympic sacred flame illuminated the stadium sky with splendor.
Spectacular fireworks soared into the sky, reflecting as a seven-colored rainbow above the stadium.
The wild music and fervent cheers were deafening, and the atmosphere reached its climax.
Yan Yan looked towards the direction of the sacred flame, and just happened to see Chen Pingjiang's profile.
Then, she smiled gently, stood on tiptoe, and lightly kissed Chen Pingjiang on the cheek.
This brought a knowing smile to Li Yuhua and Yan Liming, who were sitting beside her.
The BJ Olympic opening ceremony was watched by approximately 1 billion viewers, not counting online live streams, accounting for about 15% of the world's population.
The highest domestic viewership peak occurred at the moment Li Ning lit the main torch tower, with the viewership share climbing to 90%.
In a significant number of mainstream countries, viewership rates all exceeded 30%, with many even reaching 40%.
No comparison, no harm.
Even years later, looking back, it's still breathtaking.
BJ amazed the world in just 4 hours.
In contrast, the subsequent Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony was ridiculed as an "underworld opening ceremony."
Even the day before the opening ceremony, director Kentarō Kobayashi was dismissed, and he was already the third director to be fired.
Renren.com had a bag of tricks.
It quickly produced a video, weaving together reactions from global media, and posted it on Renren.com.
BBC: "The opening ceremony scene was 'grand and spectacular.'"
France Télévisions: "From ancient dynasties to a modern major power, the BJ Olympic opening ceremony depicted a rich and colorful history of China."
NHK: "The opening ceremony was ancient in style and magnificent in scale."
"..."
(End of Chapter)