Five years of marriage, always separated [1970s]

To put it nicely, it's caring; to put it bluntly, it's selfish.

Chu Fenghe's face suddenly changed when he heard this. He was so embarrassed that he wanted to find a hole to hide in: "Ye Fan, my dad may not recognize Dabao and Erbao."

Geng Huihui laughed: "You might as well not ask for compensation!"

Ye Fan tried to smooth things over: "Come in. Sister-in-law, Huihui has no intention of quitting her job to make movies. Don't worry if you see her commercials later, they were all shot during her breaks."

Chu Fenghe: "Is there anyone who wants you to shoot a commercial?"

Geng Huihui nodded: "It's a lot, I can't bear to refuse."

Geng Zhihui suspected that his daughter just wanted to be a star: "How much? Dad will give it to you!"

"Are you sure?" Geng Huihui said, "Then wait, I'll go get the contract, so you don't have to accuse me of talking nonsense!"

Geng Zhihui went to the main room to wait for his daughter.

Dabao poured him a glass of water. Geng Zhihui held the cup in one hand and read the contract with the other. When he saw the pay, he dropped the cup in shock and asked in disbelief, "Am I seeing this right?"

Geng Huihui nodded: "You're right. It's more than your annual salary plus bonus."

Chu Fenghe couldn't help but say, "Let me see!" He snatched it and took a look, and was slightly surprised, because their salary plus bonus was not as much as the fee for one advertisement.

Geng Huihui signed two contracts, one for skin care products and the other for instant noodles. Skin care products are expensive, while the endorsement fee for instant noodles is cheap. Chu Fenghe was only interested in the endorsement fee for instant noodles.

When Geng Huihui first heard the instant noodles advertisement, she burst out laughing. She is a teacher in the drama, so shouldn’t she be filming school supplies?

Unfortunately, the stationery manufacturer could only afford to hire her to shoot commercials, but had no money to place ads on TV. However, because Geng Huihui complained on the phone, Chang Guangrong's friends decided to help her take on a few print ads. The money was not much and the shooting was fast, and it could be done in an hour. If the shooting went well, it might take an hour to put on makeup and three minutes to shoot.

Geng Huihui asked her parents: "Teachers can have part-time jobs, as long as they pay taxes honestly. Do you think I can refuse?"

Chu Fenghe thought, if it was her, with nothing to do during the summer and winter vacations, and so much money coming to her door, would she be willing to refuse it? Chu Fenghe shook her head unconsciously.

Geng Huihui saw this and said, "Dad, Mom, don't believe everything the Chu family says. There are at least eight out of ten companies looking for Erbao recently, and my aunt has helped Erbao to reject them. If I really can't take pictures, they won't come to me, so Uncle Chang helped me to reject them."

Chu Fenghe closed the contract and sighed, "It's fine as long as we can shoot it." He paused, "It's fine as long as you know what's going on."

Yu Wentao was worried that her daughter-in-law would be unhappy and had not spoken a word. After hearing this, she finally couldn't help but said, "How old is Huihui now? She is a university teacher now. She used to sell things with her aunt when she was a teenager. Does she still need your father to tell her what she can and cannot do?"

Chu Fenghe said awkwardly: "My dad might be too concerned."

Yu Wentao snorted: "Huihui, come and help me wash the vegetables!"

Geng Huihui gave the contract to Erbao, and Erbao gave it to Geng Sensen. Geng Sensen subconsciously asked, "What are you giving it to me for?"

"You keep it and calculate how much tax you have to pay later. Sister Huihui paid it before school started." Erbao said.

Upon hearing this, Dabao thought of how he and Chu Guangming had heavy schoolwork and would have no time to deal with these things after school started, so he took out their contract and gave it to Geng Sen Sen, asking Geng Sen Sen to help them pay it when he went to the tax department.

Geng Sensen laughed angrily: "Can't you go by yourselves?"

Dabao: "I'm busy on weekdays, and the tax department is closed on weekends."

That's right, they need to ask for leave to do this. Geng Sensen put the contract away when he thought of this.

Geng Zhihui watched Sen Sen go out before he remembered to ask: "Dabao, your endorsement fee is higher, or your sister Huihui's?"

Er Bao said leisurely: "Uncle, it's better that you don't know. Otherwise, you might lose your balance."

Geng Zhihui: "Your mother just said that a big star in Hong Kong only makes one or two million. How much more can Dabao make than Huihui?"

Erbao: "Not much, just one more zero."

Geng Zhihui nodded and was about to say something, but suddenly realized what the multiple zeros meant and his eyes widened in shock.

Seeing this, Erbao said, "Although Sister Huihui is a supporting role, she was filmed from beginning to end. As for my brother, he only appeared for ten minutes."

"How is that possible?" Geng Zhihui lost his composure again, "You only acted for ten minutes, and they paid you so much? Is he stupid and rich?"

Dabao said nonchalantly, "Who knows. Guangming, let's go to the back and don't provoke your uncle here."

Geng Zhihui called Chu Guangming: "What about you?"

"I definitely don't have as much as Dabao."

Geng Zhihui opened his mouth and asked: "What do you mean by affirmation?"

"How should I explain it? Being famous doesn't necessarily mean you're suitable for commercials. Finding a spokesperson is actually about publicity. When I promote something, people can only do it if they believe I'm trustworthy. I play a poor student in the TV series. If I were to endorse a car, everyone would think it's out of place. Dabao plays a social elite with a car in the series. People who can afford a car will want to buy one when they see his ads, and become as successful as Dabao in the series." Chu Guangming was worried that people who were busy with work wouldn't understand: "Do you understand what I mean?"

Geng Zhihui said unhappily: "Just because I don't understand this business doesn't mean I'm stupid!"

"That's fine."

Geng Zhihui: "What good is that! He's gone before the audience can even remember his face. Even if he's more suitable, he can't be better than you."

Chu Guangming wanted to scratch his head: "Sister Huihui may not make as much money as Dabao by selling a car of instant noodles. They give more advertising fees, but in fact they can make it back with just a few cars."

Geng Zhihui was surprised: "Is the car so expensive?"

Dabao didn't want to waste time talking to him: "Second Uncle, even if you take out all your family's savings, including those of Sister Huihui and Brother Benben, you still can't afford the car in front of our house."

"So expensive?"

Dabao nodded.

Geng Zhihui: "Whose car is that? Why is it parked in front of our door?"

Dabao glanced at Ye Fan and dragged Chu Guangming out.

Erbao didn't want to talk to his uncle either, so he jumped out and said, "Brother, wait for me."

Geng Zhihui turned to Ye Fan and said, "Yours? Isn't your company not profitable yet?"

Ye Fan raised his eyebrows: "How do you know?"

Geng Zhihui's company needed computers, and one of his colleagues suggested buying domestically made ones, which had similar configurations to foreign ones, and he didn't have to worry about installing all sorts of clutter in the computer. Geng Zhihui felt that the word "Fanghua" sounded familiar, so he asked who the boss was. Geng Zhihui was not surprised to hear "Ye Fan", because Ye Fan had said before that she was planning to create a personal brand, but he didn't expect it to be so soon, so he asked his colleague when it was produced and why he had never heard of it.

Seeing that he was interested, his colleagues thought he supported them, so they explained a lot to Geng Zhihui. To sum it up, the reason why Fanhua Company was established so quickly was because of the huge amount of money.

Ye Fan said, "Did I forget to tell you, or did you? I have a share in Chang Guangrong's sportswear company."

Geng Zhihui thought about it carefully and seemed to have heard someone say, "No wonder you were willing to let Erbao film a TV series during the dog days of summer."

"So for the sake of your own business, you are willing to degenerate yourself?" Ye Fan turned to Chu Fenghe.

Chu Fenghe smiled bitterly: "Maybe it's because I often called him back to ask about his health in the past two years, and he-"

"If you show some kindness, you'll be fine!" Ye Fan didn't want to listen to her nonsense.

Chu Fenghe didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "My words may be a little blunt but my point is valid. This is what I meant. Actually, I felt that my mom was gone and my brother and sister-in-law were busy with work. Even if we hired a nanny, it would be pitiful for him to have no common language with others. So I would call and ask whenever I had the chance. I didn't expect that--" He sighed and decided not to say anything.

Ye Fan: "Are you still going on the second day of the Chinese New Year?"

Chu Fenghe didn't want to go, because she would definitely be asked if Huihui really wanted to film. Chu Fenghe didn't want to tell her family how much her daughter earned for an endorsement. But if she didn't tell the truth, her father would think Huihui had learned bad things.

Geng Zhihui: "No, I won't go. Huihui is grown up now. You can talk to Aunt Yu about finding a partner for her."

Ye Fan couldn't help but shook his head: "Don't worry about this."

Geng Zhihui frowned: "Ye Fan, you can't——"

"Stop!" Ye Fan didn't want to listen to him chanting. "Come with me and you'll know." As he said that, he walked out. It was windy outside, so he came back to get his cotton hat and scarf.

Geng Zhiye and Chu Fenghe also put on the hats and scarves they had just taken off.

Dabao had hung a small basket on the wall outside the door before, but no one took the perfume inside for three days. A few days ago, Dabao saw that the weather was bad and it was going to snow, so he put a small wooden box without a door where the basket was hung and put the bottle of perfume in it. As a result, there was a letter in it the next day, and there were several gifts yesterday, including a watch, which was given to Dabao.

The neighbors on both sides are not familiar with Ye Fan's family and they rarely talk to each other. This morning, when Ye Fan went out to take out the garbage, the neighbor couldn't help but remind Ye Fan that things left outside could be easily stolen.

Ye Fan explained, "We didn't buy it. A few kids used their summer vacation to help my friend shoot a TV series that's been airing recently, and someone who recognized them gave it to them. But they're still students and don't have time to make friends. And they don't know who gave it to them, so they can't return it, so they can only leave it like this."

Everything is still there, nothing is missing.

At this time, the thief disappeared.

The thief might have thought that the family did it on purpose, as a sting operation.

Ye Fan went outside and pointed at the wooden box: "Only one thing in here belongs to Dabao."

Chu Fenghe: "The rest are all Huihui's? Why are Huihui's things here?"

Geng Zhihui combined what he just said: "Are they all sent by suitors?" Ye Fan nodded: "Huihui's school has many senior teachers, and there must be many teachers who don't know her. When school starts, the younger teachers will know that Huihui is from their school, and there must be someone pursuing Huihui. In the past few days, Aunt Yu has also received several calls to introduce Huihui to someone. Because Huihui doesn't have time, the blind date time was changed to after the New Year. I estimate that Huihui can meet five people before school starts."

Chu Fenghe couldn't help but ask: "Because of the drama Huihui filmed?"

Ye Fan: "Yes. In the past, she only went between school and home, and her social circle was so small. There were not many people of her age, so naturally no one pursued her. Now everyone in the capital knows her. There are dozens or even hundreds of young talents in Xicheng alone. Isn't it enough for one person to be compatible with Huihui in all aspects? Our country does not allow polyandry."

Chu Fenghe was angry but wanted to laugh: "What kind of words are you talking about?" He was a little worried, "Will you dislike Huihui for having acted in a movie before?"

Ye Fan wanted to roll his eyes: "If she does her job well and uses her rest time to do other things, people will just think that she is capable and promising. Similarly, if an actress makes millions or even tens of millions from business, people will automatically ignore her identity as an actress. Filming will instead become a plus for her. She is so great but still remembers her roots."

Chu Fenghe understood: "But how come my father saw her filming a TV series?"

Ye Fan: "People with narrow minds cannot see the vast world!"

Chu Fenghe was speechless.

Ye Fan looked at the things in the wooden box and was very confused: "If you dare to deliver things to the door, why don't you dare to knock on the door?"

Geng Zhihui: “You don’t need to go to someone’s home in person to deliver something.”

Ye Fan immediately thought of asking someone to run errands, "I'm not afraid of sending it to the wrong person."

Chu Fenghe: "What if no one comes to take it back after the New Year?"

Ye Fan: "Then leave a piece of paper in the wooden box. The things are in the room. Please knock on the door if you want to take them back."

It was windy in the alley, so Ye Fan asked them to go inside.

Maybe the person who sent gifts came over to take a look at it in the evening, and then went back to complain to his friends, so no one sent gifts on the 29th and 30th.

On the morning of the first day of the new year, Chu Guangming stuffed his pockets with his children, Dabao and Erbao, and went to pay New Year's greetings to the elders. After receiving the New Year's money from the elders, Chu Guangming presented the gifts he had prepared.

Chu Guangming gave one to Geng Zhi, who waved his hand: "I don't want it, I don't want it."

"It's so busy, you help him collect it." Chu Guangming explained.

Geng Zhihui took it and said, "He has one too."

Dabao asked, "You've been sneaking around these days just to hide this? What is this? Let me open it and take a look."

Chu Guangming nodded: "Don't despise me."

Dabao felt that the thing was very light, only a few grams: "We are so close." Dabao rubbed his eyes after being shaken by the golden color. It was a cute little chicken, and Dabao was born in the year of the rooster. "You are so thoughtful."

“As long as you like it.” Because it was hollow and cost less than two hundred yuan, not even as expensive as the casual jacket that Dabao lent him, Chu Guangming felt really embarrassed.

Geng Huihui asked: "Mine too?"

As Ye Fan unpacked it, he said, "You'll know after you take a look."

Geng Huihui's bracelet was as thin as a red string. Geng Huihui's wrist was white and thin, and it looked very good on her. She couldn't help but smile and said, "Thank you. But I didn't prepare a gift for you."

"My aunt gave me New Year's money." Chu Guangming waved the red envelope in his hand.

Chu Fenghe felt embarrassed by this. The money Chu Fenghe had spent on him in the past few years was not worth a bracelet: "Don't buy it in the future. It's not easy to film in such a cold weather."

Geng Zhihui nodded: "Yes, save it for later use." He wanted to say that he would not have his parents to help him in the future, but suddenly remembered that Chu Guangming would be unhappy when he heard about his biological father and mother, so he swallowed the words back.

Erbao asked: "Mom, where should I hang it?"

Ye Fan: "Hang it wherever you want."

There was a red string on the little golden bean, but it was not suitable to be worn on the hand. She had a piece of jade on her neck. After hesitating for a moment, she tied it in her hair.

Chu Fenghe exclaimed softly.

Erbao asked: "Isn't it pretty?"

Geng Huihui stood up and took a look: "It looks good. Let me help you put it together." After tying the red string, she said: "You really have become a young lady wearing gold and jade."

Erbao glared at her.

Geng Huihui: "I'm praising you."

"I don't think so." Erbao looked for her brother, "Let's go play."

Ye Fan: "Today is the first day of the Chinese New Year, and there is no one on the street."

"Let's go and wish our relatives and friends a happy new year." Erbao pulled her brother, "Get up. You drive!"

Dabao stood up and said, "I knew you wanted to take a ride. Chu Guangming, do you want to go? Let's go to Xiaoming's house first."

Chu Guangming followed after hearing this.

Geng Sensen is at home and has nothing to do: "Wait for me!"

Yu Wentao reminded: "Sesen, go to your mother's relatives' house and say hello."

"understood."

Yu Wentao asked Huihui and Leilei again: "Aren't you two going?"

The two shook their heads. Geng Huihui took out the playing cards and wanted to play cards with her aunt.

After the first day of the new year, it was the second day. Dabao went to his grandmother's house to get the New Year's money and then drove to the film studio.

The company that asked Dabao to shoot the car commercial was actually quite influential, and in order to get the film right, they went to the film studio to find someone. Dabao went to the studio to meet up with them.

Dabao was stunned when he saw the filming crew, because he saw several familiar faces, who were the staff of "Glory Class 8".

Originally, they were not supposed to be involved in jobs like shooting commercials which paid well but required little work. However, as the drama became popular, the staff involved in the production and filming received bonuses and were given a chance to show their faces in front of their superiors. So the car dealer approached the factory leader, and when he heard that the spokesperson was an actor from “The Glory Class 8”, he assigned those people to him.

Several people thought it was Chu Guangming, because a reporter interviewed the director a few days ago, and the director said that Chu Guangming himself was more miserable than the character in the play. The male lead in the play had a grandmother, and he had no parents or relatives, which made Chu Guangming popular again. So several people were stunned for a while when they saw that the person coming was Dabao.

Dabao walked up to them and they came to their senses.

During the filming, the crew studied how to make Dabao appear and attract attention, but many scenes were deleted by the director because there were only twelve episodes and he couldn't dominate the show. The crew felt it was a pity, and now that they have the opportunity to film Dabao alone, they told the distributors those ideas.

The distributor asked the director who was shooting the commercial to try them one by one, and finally only three were left.

After the evening shoot, Dabao asked curiously, "Which one are you going to use?"

The dealer blurted out: "Use all three."

Dabao was surprised that there was someone richer than my mom!

The dealer thought he had misunderstood and explained, "Two were sent to the TV station, one is the national station, one is the capital station, and one is played in the store."

"Advertising on TV is not cheap."

Although the dealer signed a one-year contract with Dabao, he planned to only put the advertisement on TV for three months, regardless of whether it was successful or not. The dealer felt that advertising on TV was not as effective as putting it in the store.

So the dealer asked the director to work overtime to edit the advertisement that he was going to put in the store.

The director took several days to produce the less than three-minute advertisement. At the same time, the capital's largest car dealer asked the store staff to buy several televisions and DVD players.

As soon as the guests entered the door, they saw Dabao getting out of the car wearing Martin boots, and they could feel his elegance even through the blurry TV screen.

Those who had originally planned to take a look first gritted their teeth and bought the car that Dabao photographed.

Eight cars were sold before the Lantern Festival.

There aren’t many people who have money to buy cars these days, and the circle is small, so it didn’t take long for everyone to know that Dabao’s endorsement was effective, and then many people came to Dabao, including people from other provinces.

Dabao picked and chose and decided to shoot a clothing advertisement that would not conflict with Chang Guangrong's sportswear.

Geng Huihui used Sunday to shoot several cover photos and attended classes as usual. She was not dazzled by her temporary fame. Someone who had been paying attention to her approached her elders and asked them to find someone to arrange a meeting between him and Geng Huihui.

Since it was just a blind date, Ye Fan didn't care and let her mother-in-law arrange it.

In late May, Ye Fan came back from the north. As soon as he entered the house, he saw a young man in the yard. Ye Fan subconsciously stepped out, looked at the house number, and then looked at his neighbor: "Is that right?"

Erbao ran out: "What are you doing, mom?"

Ye Fan's heart suddenly moved: "You have a boyfriend?"

"What's wrong, Mom?" Erbao touched her forehead, "You don't have a fever. Are you tired and confused?"

(End of this chapter)