Everyone present felt that Shi Niannian's performance was incredibly realistic, and the director thought so too.
"Smack!" The second stick came down again.
"Si Fan, save me!" Shi Niannian was in excruciating pain. She knew she was being set up and wouldn't just let herself be beaten stupidly; she shouted as loudly as she could.
"Cut!" The director called a halt; he realized something was amiss—Shi Niannian's cry wasn't a line from the script.
"Ah!" Just as the director halted the scene, Shi Niannian was struck by another stick.
Another actor was about to take the opportunity to hit once more when his body was kicked over, and four or five men charged over; two men restrained the two crowd actors, and one took the props from their hands.
Si Fan crouched beside Shi Niannian, anxiously asked, "Niannian, what's wrong?"
"It hurts so much. The stick didn't hit the cushion; it hit my thigh. There seems to be spikes on it; it's really painful," Shi Niannian cried from the pain.