This company was owned by Mrs Bian, managed by her brother, and accompanied by her son on the erhu, a situation which led to its being generally known as the Li Troupe (Lijia Ban).
"[2] Relocating to Shanghai in 1935, Li Guizhen performed pingju alongside Ai Lianjun, Yu Lingzhi, and Zhao Ruquan to large audiences at the Enpaiya Theater and on tour through Suzhou, Wuxi, and Nanjing.
The repertoire included Pan Jinlian, Spring in the Jade Hall (玉堂春, Yù Táng Chūn), The Little Matchmaker (t 紅娘, s 红娘, Hóngniáng), Yan Poxi, and The Lioness's Roar (t 河東獅吼, s 河东狮吼, Hédōng Shīhǒu).
[8] She became a movie star following her role in Zhang Shichuan's 1936 Red Begonia (t 海棠紅, s 海棠红, Hǎitáng Hóng) and was considered one of "The Four Famous Dans", alongside Liu Cuixia, Ai Lianjun, and Xi Cailian.
She received treatment at Beiping's German hospital and her understudy Fuzi—under the name Little Bai Yushuang (小白玉霜, p Xiao Bái Yùshuāng)—only replaced her once she was too ill to take the stage.