Huayu: I'm reborn, but you still force me to be a scumbag?

Chapter 124: The Poor Clown

Zhao Liying has been very depressed during this period. She is often awakened by nightmares in the middle of sleep and cannot fall asleep again.

Due to the success of last year's Super Girl, various talent shows have sprung up like mushrooms after rain.

In January, she signed up online for a talent show called "Yahoo Search Star."

This "Yahoo Search Star" is a talent show jointly organized by Yahoo and Zhejiang Satellite TV.

The program team found four directors and divided them into four groups. Through online selection and voting and popularity competition, the first place in each group could shoot a commercial with the director of that group.

The four directors are Feng Xiaogang, Chen Kaige, Zhang Jizhong and Zhang Yiyi.

When signing up, Zhao Liying chose Director Zhang Yiyi. However, she did not expect that the competition in this group would be so fierce.

It is only the preliminary round now, and it will end on February 2th, just half a month away.

Her ranking has continued to drop and has now dropped to 51st, falling out of the top 50 qualifying circle.

She has tried hard enough.

Not only did she mobilize all her friends, she also spent all her free time after work online, canvassing for votes in every possible place.

Whether it was Baidu Tieba, Tianya Forum, Xisi Hutong, or various large and small BBSs... she was copying and pasting her voting information every minute and every second.

She actually placed a lot of hope on this competition.

She wanted to stand out, not only to realize her dream, but also to escape from her current quagmire-like life.

The poverty passed down from generation to generation was like a pool of quicksand, always trying to roll her down to the deepest part of the ground. She had struggled with all her strength.

However, without external help, she saw no hope of escaping.

And today, to make matters worse for her life, she is unemployed.

She just graduated from a technical secondary school last year and studied to be a flight attendant. However, her family had no connections and no money, so she couldn't get a job at an airline with such a diploma.

So he went to look for a job on his own and ended up working as a sales assistant in a pipeline anti-corrosion company.

One day before the New Year, the sales manager took her to have dinner with some clients from out of town.

If she hadn't been so alert that night and hadn't gone out to the bathroom and then returned without drinking the glass of wine in front of her, she wouldn't know what would have happened to her now.

Because she later heard that there was a girl who seemed drunk that day, and was taken to the hotel without knowing what happened. No one knew what happened after that.

This made her shudder every time she thought about it.

So, when the sales manager asked her to have dinner with a client again today, she resolutely resigned.

Without giving a single thought, she threw the resignation letter in front of the lecherous middle-aged man.

At that moment, I felt very happy. But after the Chinese New Year, the balance in my bank card was less than 1000 yuan, and I had to pay rent, water and electricity soon. What should I do now?
Zhao Liying walked aimlessly on the streets of Langfang, she actually didn't know where to go.

But she didn't want to go home because the cramped and crowded rental house couldn't give her anything, including the warmth and comfort she desperately needed.

This day was the Lantern Festival on February 2006, 2, and it was also the last day for many people to stay at home before going out to work. Therefore, the streets of Langfang City were very busy.

She was in the city center, surrounded by a bustling city. In front of her, there was a stage made of red cloth, with a signboard reading "Xinxin Gold Shop, New Year's Big Sale" and a character performing a show.

That's a clown.

This clown is very unique, unlike the colorfully dressed clowns we usually see.

He was wearing a red suit and had a real red hair instead of a wig on his head. He had a thick layer of white powder on his face and a love mark on his right cheek. His mouth was not painted in an exaggerated way, just a smiling arc.

He doesn't look like a clown in a circus. There's an indescribable sense of reality about him, the kind that one would probably not turn around in surprise even if he passed by.

The clown was performing a ball-throwing performance on the stage. It was obvious that he was not very skilled and was a bit clumsy and flustered. The three balls in his hands were thrown high and low, which made Zhao Liying sweat for him.

After tossing the ball for a while, the clown began his funny show on the stage, making all kinds of weird faces and movements, trying to make everyone laugh.

But Zhao Liying could tell that this clown must have only been in the industry for a short time, because although he tried very hard and wanted to make everyone laugh, his movements and tricks were really clumsy and not funny at all.

The audience watching below the stage felt bored and most of them left at once.

Probably because he saw that the situation was not good, the host suddenly walked onto the stage and interrupted the clown's performance: "Thank you, thank you clown for the wonderful performance. Now, it's time for our prize wheel. All customers who go to our store to buy gold jewelry today can enjoy special discounts..."

Zhao Liying was a little caught off guard when she saw the clown. She hurriedly got off the stage and went to the back of the stage.

Out of curiosity, or perhaps just boredom, she slowly walked over, pretending to just pass by unintentionally.

Behind the stage, an Optimus Prime was saying to the clown with great sorrow, "Xiao Wang, I'm not saying anything bad about you, but you almost killed me when you jumped around on the stage. Are you being funny? You were just messing with my mentality. You might as well just toss the ball for five minutes. Did I ask you to be funny before? Because I can see that you don't have any comedy talent, alas."

There was also a giraffe nearby who added fuel to the fire and said, "The popularity that Su Tuan had worked so hard to gather was scattered by you in an instant. What do you want me to do when I go up later?"

Optimus Prime sighed, "Forget it, forget it. There are only three of us left in the group now, and I don't want to say anything more about you. Xiao Wang, come down and practice hard, and learn something online."

After that, he turned around and asked, "Xiao Si, we still need to recruit people quickly. Guo Peng and his team are gone, and we are too short of staff now. Let's print some recruitment ads today and post them on the streets."

The giraffe said meaningfully: "Su Tuan, are you still only recruiting flower fairies?"

Optimus Prime glanced at the Joker, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Well, we'll just hire flower fairies. It says on it, female, between 18 and 25 years old, cute, and can sing. It doesn't matter if you have experience or not, as long as you can sing."

While they were talking, Zhao Liying pretended to be waiting for someone and listened silently. When she heard this, her heart suddenly moved.

She was the type who would do whatever she thought of. After hesitating for a few seconds, she walked over and asked, "Hello, are you looking for someone?"

Apparently, Captain Su didn't expect someone to come to his house so suddenly. He was stunned for a moment, then turned around and looked her up and down, and said, "Yes, we are looking for a girl who can sing and perform. Are you interested?"

At this time, the host on the stage said, "Please welcome the giraffe," and the giraffe hurried onto the stage.

Zhao Liying asked, "Do you think I can do it?"

She is indeed pretty, otherwise she wouldn't have the courage to participate in any talent show. From childhood to adulthood, although she didn't dress well, Zhao Liying was also praised by others when she grew up.

On a small round face, big eyes are bright and moving, and the small mouth is like a cherry.

The key point is that she is not like the average baby-faced girl with a flat nose. Her nose bridge is high and straight, making her look very energetic.

Although the makeup I put on now is a little heavy for work, the sweet and pure feeling still can't be concealed.

Optimus Prime seemed quite satisfied with her image and asked, "Can you sing?"

"meeting."

"Now sing me one of your favorite songs."

Zhao Liying was not stage-frightened. Although there were many people around her, she still opened her mouth and sang a fable by Angela Chang.

"I walked along this busy street. The sun made me feel a little tired. It was strange that I loved to mutter recently, but I felt that I don't care..."

Optimus Prime frowned and listened for a long time. When the song was about to end, he interrupted and said, "Okay, that's it. Alas."

Optimus Prime's long sigh seemed to express the impermanence and helplessness of the world, just like the old saying: "Seven out of ten things in life are not as you wish."

Zhao Liying blushed a little, but she didn't back down. Instead, she took the initiative to say, "I didn't perform well just now. How about you listen to me sing another song?"

Optimus Prime said, "Okay, then come again."

"I have always had a pair of invisible wings~ I fly~ I give me hope~ I finally see~ my dreams blossom~"

It was still Angela Chang’s song, but this time Optimus Prime only listened to the beginning and said, “Okay, okay, that’s it.”

He looked Zhao Liying up and down, this time for a long time, before asking, "What's your name?"

"Zhao Liying."

"You've never sung before, have you?"

"No."

"Well... your pitch isn't quite right, and your breath isn't steady. We're looking for someone who's responsible for warming up our show. Go sing a few songs before we go on stage, and try to attract more people to watch. So far, it seems like you look good, but you still need to practice your songs more. By the way, don't sing the invisible wings anymore, okay?"

"Oh." Zhao Liying blinked and said, "I can also sing Liang Jingru's Courage. Do you want to listen to it?"

Optimus Prime waved his hand and said, "You are very courageous. I already know that. Let me tell you the salary. It is paid daily. 30 yuan for one performance on stage, and 50 yuan after one week. If you are willing, you can come to work tomorrow."

How could Zhao Liying be unwilling? This month's salary was higher than her previous salary, and it was paid on a daily basis. It was a timely help for her current situation.

She nodded without hesitation and said, "Okay, I'll come tomorrow."

After recruiting people, Optimus Prime breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Then we will be colleagues from now on. Come, let me introduce myself. My last name is Su, and you can call me Captain Su from now on. Our troupe is called Mingming Comedy Troupe. This is the clown Wang Xiang, and the one just now was the giraffe Huo Xiaosi."

"Hello." Zhao Liying greeted the clown.

The Joker looked a little dull, and nodded to her and said hello. Finally, four people were gathered together. Although the two newcomers seemed a little unreliable, Optimus Prime felt that he had accomplished a great thing. After all, the team was getting stronger and stronger.

He raised his hand to check his watch and said, "Today is the Lantern Festival. We are going to have a dinner party later. If you have nothing else to do, Xiao Zhao, why don't you come with us?"

Zhao Liying didn't want to go back to the rental house at first, so she nodded and agreed immediately.

After a while, the giraffe left the stage and the performance for the day ended.

The clown and the giraffe were all surrounding Optimus Prime, waiting to be paid for the day. Zhao Liying was watching curiously from the side.

"Xiao Si, you get 50, Xiao Wang, you get 30."

As Optimus Prime said, the clown was still on trial, so there was only 30 yuan. Zhao Liying saw the clown take the money and put the 30 yuan into his trouser pocket cautiously.

She felt that this clown was more like her.

Not look alike.

It's that they don't have any talent, but they work very hard.

Also, still poor.

At this time, Optimus Prime suddenly said: "Do you know what my biggest dream is now?"

The giraffe shook its long neck and tossed its head, saying, "I don't know, Su Tuan, what is it?"

"We finally have all the staff now. We will work hard to take over the Forest Comedy Troupe's business and help me vent my anger. At that time, there was endless work every day. We did two shows every day, 50 for one show and 100 for two shows. Just think about it, how much money can you make in a month? 3000 yuan! Isn't that very rich?"

The giraffe continued, "And it can make Guo Peng and Zhou Jinxuan regret it!"

Optimus Prime nodded and said, "Yes. So, let's work hard together. Xiao Zhao, go back and practice singing, Xiao Wang, go back and practice throwing the ball, and think about how the clown performs. Xiao Si, don't slack off either, go back and lose weight for me. There's no such thing as a giraffe as fat as you, got it?"

All three nodded and said, "Got it."

Optimus Prime nodded with satisfaction and said, "Today is also a new starting point for our troupe. It is also the Lantern Festival. Let's go. I will treat everyone to a meal."

The giraffe chuckled and said, "Su Tuan, do you have any red envelopes?"

Optimus Prime pretended to be angry and said, "Get lost."

Captain Su, who took off his Optimus Prime armor, is a middle-aged man in his 30s, with thick eyebrows and big eyes. He looks a little handsome, with an unshaven beard and unkempt appearance. He feels several years older than his actual age. However, it is precisely because of this that he has a sense of vicissitudes of life and the charm of a mature man.

The giraffe was a young man in his 20s, a little chubby and looking fierce. He would glance at Zhao Liying from time to time.

The clown didn't take off his makeup.

The Lantern Festival was not over yet, and many restaurants were not open yet. Team leader Su and a few people searched for a long time and found a Sichuan restaurant that was open.

It was past 5 o'clock and there was no business. There were only the boss and the waiter inside, watching the TV programs on the wall out of boredom.

Four people ordered six dishes and a bottle of Erguotou. The boss happily went to cook. Team leader Su asked the people if they wanted to drink, but three of them refused.

So before the dishes were served, Captain Su poured himself a glass of wine, drank it all in one gulp, squinted his eyes happily, and after a while, he exhaled a breath of alcohol from his throat and said, "Comfortable."

Captain Su looked at Zhao Liying and asked, "Xiao Zhao, what did you do before?"

Zhao Liying said: "I used to work as a salesperson in a company, but I resigned today."

Captain Su was surprised and asked, "Resigning today?"

Zhao Liying hummed and said, "I met a disgusting person."

Captain Su actually didn't ask any further questions.

But Zhao Liying had been keeping this matter in her heart for a long time, so she told everything that had happened to her.

Hearing that Captain Su was into the drama, he slammed the table in anger and cursed: "Damn it, there are too many scumbags like this in society, damn it! Xiao Zhao, I will give you an extra 10 yuan tomorrow to comfort you."

Zhao Liying said happily: "Thank you, Captain Su. I will work hard in the future."

Captain Su waved his hand and said, "No big deal."

Guo Xiaosi was also filled with righteous indignation and said, "What kind of people are they? If I met them, I would definitely help you vent your anger."

At this time, Captain Su observed Zhao Liying's expression.

Seeing her happy look, Captain Su decided to explain: "Xiao Zhao, when I said to increase the salary by 10 yuan, I meant to increase the salary by 10 yuan tomorrow, not every day, hehe."

If the food hadn't arrived at that moment, the awkward atmosphere would have been hard to break.

Zhao Liying had a cheerful and lively personality. She soon forgot about the incident and became talkative at the dinner table, unlike the clown who just ate sullenly.

Captain Su and Xiao Si kept chatting with her.

At this time, Captain Su took a piece of fish-flavored pork with chopsticks and said in astonishment: "Ah? You also participated in the talent show? What's your name?"

Zhao Liying picked up a mouthful of rice and put it into her mouth. "Yahoo Search Star."

Captain Su said thoughtfully: "Xiao Si, I remember that guy also participated in a talent show. Was he also called this?"

Huo Xiaosi thought for a moment and said, "It seems to be called this. Hey, Xiao Zhao, is it the kind of online voting where one phone number can only vote once? And then there are several groups, and the top 50 in each group can advance?"

Zhao Liying said: "Yes, that's it."

Huo Xiaosi said to Captain Su, "That's right, the same as Zhou Jinxuan. Years ago, she asked me to go to the Internet cafe to vote for her. The leader of her group seems to be Zhang Yiyi."

"Ah!" Zhao Liying exclaimed, "I'm in this group too."

"Zhang Yiyi, who is that?" Su Tuan asked.

Zhao Liying was surprised and said, "Director Zhang Yiyi won the Silver Bear Award in Berlin, Germany last year. He's very impressive. Don't you know about this, Su Tuan?"

The clown who had been listening silently suddenly spoke up and asked, "Did he win a prize?"

"Uh-huh!"

Zhao Liying patiently explained, "Director Zhang Yiyi is very good. After graduating from the directing department of the Film Academy, he made two films. However, due to insufficient money and too little shooting time, the films ultimately did not meet his own standards, so he took the initiative to interrupt the shooting and decided to continue his studies. He was admitted to the graduate school of the Film Academy. As a result, last year, guess what happened?"

Captain Su asked curiously, "What's going on?"

Zhao Liying continued, "Last year, he wrote, directed and invested in a movie that became a huge success internationally, winning the Silver Bear Award and bringing honor to our country. The movie was called The Dumb House and was released in May last year. Have you seen it?"

Captain Su and Huo Xiaosi both shook their heads. Huo Xiaosi said, "I haven't seen it."

Captain Su was serving his second bowl of rice: "I've seen the poster, but I haven't seen the movie."

Zhao Liying said excitedly, "I watched it three times, and cried every time. Director Zhang Yiyi is really amazing. He shot it very well. I really admire him. The movie is very good. Captain Su, you must watch it when you have the chance."

Captain Su nodded and said, "Okay, I'll rent a DVD some other day."

Zhao Liying added: "The more I get to know him, the more I admire him, really. How can there be such a hard-working and talented director in the world? If I could shoot a commercial with him, I would really feel that it would be the happiest thing in the world."

"Cough cough cough!" The clown seemed to have choked on his food.

Captain Su said, "Xiao Wang, eat slowly, don't be in a hurry."

"Yeah." The clown nodded, "I just ate a chili pepper."

Huo Xiaosi said, "You are from Xichuan, so why are you afraid of spicy food? Hey, Xiao Zhao, what's your ranking now? When I voted for that person last time, she seemed to be 16th. How about you?"

Zhao Liying's face suddenly darkened. She used her chopsticks to stir the shredded potatoes in her bowl. She seemed to have no mood to eat. "I was ranked 35th before, and now I'm 51st."

"Ah, then you're not?"

"Yes, I'm about to be eliminated." Zhao Liying looked very sad. "I really didn't expect that the competition in Director Zhang Yiyi's group would be so fierce. There were actually thousands of people signing up."

“Are there few from other groups?” Captain Su said while eating.

"Yes, Captain Su, do you know how many votes our group's first place winner Zhang Wanru got? She actually got more than 300 million votes. The first place winners of the other three groups combined don't have as many votes as she does. With my 15 votes, if it was in other groups, I would definitely be in the top 20, but here, I can't even make it into the top 50."

Captain Su wrapped his rice and asked vaguely, "Why? Zhang Yiyi is so popular?"

Zhao Liying said neatly: "No, they are all here for that bitch Chen Nuo."

"puff!"

The clown is eating.

He didn't say anything because he was eating and was now on his third bowl of rice.

At this moment, he spat out all the food in his mouth. If he hadn't turned his head quickly, the food would have been all over the table.

(End of this chapter)