Huayu Chunqiu, starting from being adopted by a fairy mother

Chapter 338 Dalang, it’s time to drink medicine

"What kind of lousy tea is this? It's scalding hot!" Liu Jing exclaimed, trying to hide his shock.

What's wrong with this girl? She actually wants Xiaoxue to call her godmother.

Given Zhang Min's suspicious nature, she would definitely overthink it.

Sisi pouted. If it's so hot, why did you enjoy drinking it so much?

"Didn't Zhang Min tell you?"

She was quite surprised, as this hadn't just happened, but more than two weeks ago.

After the disaster relief efforts ended, she wanted to go out for a walk to clear her head and ease her gloomy mood. Witnessing some of the disaster firsthand had a significant impact on her.

She and Jing Tian went to the United States together, and of course they had to visit Zhang Min and her daughter.

The baby was so cute, and as she held him, she suddenly realized that he was more fun than any toy.

She begged her mother to adopt Liu Jing back then because she wanted a toy.

Later, they realized it was a complete miscalculation; Liu Jing had treated her like a toy.

Sisi teased the little girl in a joking tone, "Xiaoxue, Xiaoxue, will you call me godmother from now on? Godmother will buy you pretty clothes and dress you up like a little princess."

Zhang Min responded jokingly, "If you don't like the word 'aunt,' you can have her call you 'sister.'"

Sisi thought that Zhang Min would definitely tell Liu Jing about this later, but it seemed that Liu Jing had no idea at all.

"Is the aunt or the maternal aunt closer?" Liu Jing sighed.

“Auntie,” Sisi answered without hesitation.

Liu Jing sighed again, forgetting that Qianqian had little contact with her aunts and had only interacted with her aunt since she was little.

"Is your aunt closer to you, or your godmother?" Liu Jing changed the subject. He originally wanted to tell Qianqian a truth: among so many relatives, her aunt is one of the closest.

“Of course it’s my aunt,” Sisi replied. She didn’t really remember her godmother; she just knew her by name.

“Yes, so you should still be a good aunt.” Liu Jing put down her teacup.

Sisi blinked her eyes. "What do you mean by 'right'? What do you mean by 'because' and 'therefore'? Is there a cause-and-effect relationship here? I feel like I'm getting confused."

"Since you know you were wrong, pour me a cup of tea, and I'll forgive you." Liu Jing looked relaxed, feeling quite content, and even more so, missing Shuchang. If she were here, wouldn't the evening be doubly enjoyable?

Liu Jing is very busy, but he still manages to steal a moment to attend his assistant's graduation party.

Shu Chang is really busy; she wishes she could split herself in two.

With the release of "Assembly" and "Magic Phone," the first half of 2008 became all about silly girls.

"Magic Phone" was filmed two years ago. Liu Jing was not very optimistic about it at the time, thinking that the plot was childish and there were too many unreasonable scenes.

After learning more about it, he was even less optimistic. The production was crude, the design was outrageous, and it was a complete parody.

Little did anyone know that after its release, it would cause a huge sensation and spark heated discussions across the country.

Shu Chang's portrayal of the silly girl, combining innocence and a sense of technology, truly carried the show.

Sister Li was very happy and told Shu Chang not to accept any endorsements related to mobile phones. She said that she would ask Shu Chang to be the spokesperson when her mobile phone brand was launched.

She took the opportunity to have her team promote her goddaughter, generating a lot of buzz and discussion.

Shu Chang received so many offers for roles that she couldn't keep up. She even borrowed money from Qianqian to buy a house in Hengdian, since she was mostly filming there.

Liu Jing has a more direct feeling that Shu Chang's popularity score has broken through 80 points and is now 84 points.

Yang Mi has been working very hard lately. In preparation for filming "Jin Da Ban", she hired a dance teacher to learn waltz, rumba, jazz, cha-cha and other dances.

Her popularity has dropped considerably, and her fame has been overshadowed by Shu Chang's; she's certainly not willing to accept that.

Yang Mi has three more dramas this year: "The Golden Era", "New Three Kingdoms" and "Chinese Paladin 3", plus "Nightclub" which has already finished filming. This time, she is determined to surpass Shu Chang.

Liu Shishi has three dramas yet to start filming this year: Diao Chan in "New Three Kingdoms," Long Kui in "Chinese Paladin 3," and Yin Shuangshuang in "The Legend of the White Snake: The Sequel," in addition to "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," which is currently being filmed. She's poised for a successful year and full of energy.

Tang Yan's situation is similar; she has starred in "Ip Man," "Storm Riders 2," and "Chinese Paladin 3," two of which are movies, much to Yang Mi's envy.

As for Jing Tian, ​​she was even more impressive. The company secured a role for her in "An Epic of a Woman" and also tailored "The Great Biography of Sun Tzu" specifically for her.

With Shu Chang leading the pack and Liu Shishi, Jing Tian, ​​and Tang Yan chasing behind, Yang Mi feels a great sense of crisis.

Liu Jing felt no sense of crisis, only happiness and anticipation. Under Shu Chang's encouragement, the young actresses were all showing signs of becoming workaholics, which made him extremely gratified.

"Your Majesty, please have some tea." Sisi's laughter interrupted Liu Jing's reverie.

Liu Jing thought Qianqian was unhappy, but to his surprise, she smiled and poured the tea, then presented it to him with both hands.

This made Liu Jing feel uneasy. He reached out and touched his forehead, but he didn't have a fever.

"There's no one else around, just the two of us in the house. You've already ruined all my dignity." Qianqian pouted. This is nothing. Who knows what kind of trouble she'll cause me tonight.

"Rise," Liu Jing said with a smile.

"Your Majesty, let me feed you tea..." Qianqian held up the teacup and stuffed it into Liu Jing's mouth.

Liu Jing jumped away immediately. This wasn't serving tea; it was clearly murder.

"Your Majesty, don't go! Your Majesty..." Sisi chased after him, insisting on feeding him.

One fled, the other chased, and the full cup of tea gradually dwindled to half.

"Put the cup down, it's an antique."

"Da Lang, it's time to take your medicine."

"Holy crap, are you describing yourself as Pan Jinlian?"

"Give me some."

Gao Yuanyuan, carrying a stack of documents, walked briskly and was about to knock on the door when she stopped.

She breathed a sigh of relief, smiled, and quietly turned and left.

The siblings have reconciled, which is good news for her, and everyone can play without worry now.

After feeding each other half a cup of tea, the two of them clung to each other.

"Are you still angry?" Sisi asked softly, nestled against Liu Jing's chest.

"I'm not angry." Liu Jing stroked his long hair, as if petting a cat.

"I understand that you didn't want me when you were filming. In the 'Holy Flame Order' crew, Gao Yuanyuan and Jing Tian didn't perform well, and you didn't show any mercy. I heard from Jing Tian that she was scolded to tears by you several times. When filming 'Under the City Wall,' you treated Gao Yuanyuan like a grandson. She complained to us that she would never film your shows again. You gave me face and couldn't bear to scold me, afraid that I would lose face. In 'Holy Flame Order,' the woman in yellow had few scenes, but in 'The Message,' Gu Xiaomeng is the female lead with a lot of scenes. You were worried about my acting skills, worried that I wouldn't be able to reach the state you wanted, and even more worried that I would suffer. I've only just realized all of this." Qianqian's voice was very soft because she understood and realized how different she was in Liu Jing's heart.

She used to be used to Liu Jing's kindness to her and thought it was all a matter of course.

Yesterday, Jing Tian invited her for drinks, and some of his words touched her deeply.

What I took for granted was something others longed for.

"Sister Sisi, I saw a really interesting quote the other day. It said that we are all born naked and alive. Apart from the life and protection given to us by our parents, none of us owes anyone anything. Some people always take other people's kindness for granted and their affection for a gift they deserve. In fact, feelings are not a debt or an obligation, but a choice."

The giver need not be humble; love is not charity, but resonance. The receiver should not be arrogant; affection is not eternal, but a flowing river. Indifference cannot respond to passion, and calculation cannot measure sincerity.

"One day we will realize that the greatest pain in life is not what we cannot get, nor what we cannot obtain, but what we once had and then pushed away with our own hands. So I think that in this short life, to meet someone who is willing to stay for you is a miracle in itself."

"I envy you. You met him so early, leaving us no chance at all."

These are the words spoken by Jing Tian in a dazed state. Qianqian did not find her origin, but she knew where she was going.

She had initially intended to continue the cold war with Liu Jing for a few more days, but she couldn't sit still any longer.

Jing Tian had said so much before, but she was just feeling a bit emotional. At such a young age, she had been influenced by Yang Mi and had also started to enjoy the inspiration.

Those last two sentences really stung her. If another woman were to take advantage of her vulnerability, all the lessons she'd learned about managing a husband would have been for nothing.

Yang Mi, that scheming bitch, and Liu Shishi, that little green tea, are definitely watching the show from the shadows.

No way! I've built this empire and nurtured this wonderful man; how can I just hand it over to someone else?

Liu Jing's expression was strange; he had noticed something amiss while filming "Painted Skin."

The director reprimanded her, and Sisi humbly accepted it. If he said anything negative, Sisi would become unhappy and lose focus while filming.

At that moment, he suddenly understood Zhang Guoli. There was really no other way to kill off Consort Yi in "Kangxi's Private Visit".

He didn't have as many feelings as Xixi at the moment; he was struggling with a problem: "No wonder Yuanyuan wasn't very enthusiastic about the casting process. I thought... I thought she was busy with the preparations for 'The Myth' and rehearsing for the play."

“The theme of ‘Under the City Wall’ is already very depressing, and she’s not very resilient. Plus, she was constantly being scolded by you, and she almost broke down several times. If you hadn’t become her husband on set, who knows what might have happened,” Sisi pouted.

"Cough cough..." Liu Jing felt uncomfortable. What kind of wild and inappropriate words were those? There was no such thing as a couple on set.

"Are you still angry?" Sisi asked calmly, looking up at Liu Jing.

"I'm not angry anymore." Liu Jing pinched her little face; it didn't feel as nice as her chubby cheeks used to. "Looks like we don't need to call Shu Chang back." Qianqian smiled, with a touch of mischievousness about her.

"I'm very angry." Liu Jing said with a stern face, "You should call Shu Chang back. I want to use the Silly Girl brand phone."

"Silly girl should be home by now."

"Let's go! She doesn't have a house key."

"You're not sleeping at the company anymore?"

"I'm homesick."

……
-
"Who's in charge here? The floorboards are warped, didn't you see that?"

"The rope is too thin, change to a different size."

"The scaffolding can't be here, move it over there."

"Electrician, these wires are a complete tangled mess. Who are you trying to test?"

……

Early in the morning, Liu Jing's reprimanding voice rang out from the rehearsal space.

Everyone's gotten used to it. Ever since the first dress rehearsal, this young man has been arriving very early every day and making sure to patrol the area to check for any safety hazards.

On-site coordination is something even the director can handle, let alone the security department.

"Liu Jing, don't worry about that now, it's about to start, hurry up and come to the main conference room." Cheng Xiaodong's voice came through the walkie-talkie.

"Okay! I'll be right there." Liu Jing was helping the workers move the scaffolding.

Five promotional videos have been completed and will soon be broadcast on television, the internet, outdoor media, and various other platforms. A leader suggested organizing viewings for the relevant actors to strengthen their conviction and sense of unity.

Although the leader's suggestion was casual, the creative team took it very seriously and scheduled a viewing for 9:00 AM today.

Liu Jing checked the time; it was only 8:30. It seemed there were other things to do.

He walked into the large conference room, which was full of people. In the front row were relevant leaders, representatives of the organizing committee, directors, and key members of the creative team from various departments. In the back were hundreds of people, including many children, and photographers on both sides.

Liu Jing glanced around and saw many familiar faces. They were mostly actors from the painting, writing, opera, Silk Road, and ritual music modules, as well as more than two hundred singers from the national anthem choir.

"In the opening ceremony, eight flag bearers held the flag horizontally, Lin Miaoke took the stage, and fifty-six children walked in, surrounding the national flag. Next was the flag-raising ceremony, followed by the national anthem being sung by the ethnic choir..." Zhang Yimou gestured with his hands, describing the scene of the first act to the leaders.

Besides Zhang Yimou, there were also the directors of four other promotional videos, as well as several key members of the production team, gathered together.

"Director Kaige, have you received any new instructions from above?"

Chen Kaige was standing at the very back. Liu Jing walked over and quietly asked him.

"They wanted to make a documentary about the preparations for the opening ceremony, recording the process both on and off stage, and we each took charge of a part of the work," Chen Kaige responded.

As Liu Jing's reputation in the directing world soared, some admired him, while many more loathed him. The industry is only so big, resources are limited, and seats are scarce; when someone becomes powerful, it naturally squeezes out the living space of others.

Wherever there are people, there are social circles, and the world of directors is no exception.

Chen Kaige and Tian Zhuangzhuang are good friends, and Chen Hong and Sister Li have a good relationship, so he and Liu Jing are considered to be in the same circle.

"You seniors, you wouldn't have left me with the toughest challenges while I was away, would you?" Liu Jing complained.

Of the five promotional videos last time, these guys took the easiest one, leaving the most difficult one for him.

It wasn't that they deliberately set him up; the director originally chosen was Zhang Yimou. Zhang Yimou declined the offer, citing preparations for the opening ceremony, and instead recommended Liu Jing.

The organizing committee was not optimistic, believing that a 20-year-old director, despite his achievements, could not shoulder this heavy responsibility.

Out of respect for Zhang Yimou, they wanted Liu Jing to give it a try. A few days later, Liu Jing's filming proposal amazed everyone.

This world is never short of people who reap the rewards, and some suggested adopting Liu Jing's plan and inviting a more experienced director to film it.

No sooner had he spoken than his superiors rejected his proposal, saying that since it was Liu Jing's idea, he should be allowed to film it, and that was the end of it.

"When you were filming the promotional video, did you shoot any footage?" Chen Kaige asked.

"Of course I took the photos."

"Provide them with the footage and let them edit it themselves; that's our part."

"It has to be you again." Liu Jing sighed. The old guys are really something, each one knows how to handle things better than the last.

"Anything up after get off work? Let's grab a couple of drinks, you and me," Chen Kaige invited.

"Okay, I'll treat you tonight. How about Aunt Chen Hong? If she's not busy, let's go together." Liu Jing muttered to himself, no wonder she was sharing her tips on slacking off, she actually needed something from me.

Chen Hong is not Zhang Min; she is Sister Li's real friend, so Liu Jing has to call her "Auntie."

“She went to the United States.” After saying that, Old Chen suddenly sighed. “She went to the United States to see Zhang Min and wanted to discuss some cooperation.”

"It seems you've discovered you've taken a roundabout route instead of coming closer," Liu Jing chuckled.

Zhang Min has already given birth and no longer refuses to see people. When someone approaches her to discuss cooperation, she usually refers them to Liu Jing.

Zhang Min felt embarrassed to hand the baton to Mr. Wen. After all, her former best friend was now her child's great-aunt.

“Yes. I thought since we see each other often, I’d like to talk to you first. In your Aunt Chen Hong’s eyes, you’re still a little kid in open-crotch pants. She felt she couldn’t talk to you, so she went straight to the US to find Zhang Min,” Chen Kaige explained.

"About the play 'The Orphan of Zhao'," Liu Jing guessed, inwardly grumbling. Back when they first met on the set of "Three Kingdoms," he wasn't wearing open-crotch pants.

As a leading figure among the fifth generation of directors, Chen Kaige's every move naturally attracts a lot of attention.

As soon as "Mei Lanfang" was completed, he began preparations for "The Orphan of Zhao".

Bai Bing was also very proactive; she and Chen Hong had become acquainted and were seeing each other frequently lately. The drama had barely begun preparations when Bai Bing set her sights on it, naturally wanting to get a few actors on board.

“That’s right! I originally wanted to rebuild a city in the style of the Spring and Autumn Period, but the investors thought it was unnecessary. Your Spring and Autumn Film City is already there. Yue Ren Costumes has a unique research on pre-Qin clothing. Taking these two points into consideration, your Aunt Chen Hong wants to cooperate with Spring and Autumn.” Chen Kaige nodded in agreement. Liu Jingneng knew this, and he wasn’t surprised.

“Aunt Chen Hong has a good eye, we have to give her this face. We're all on the same side, talking about money would hurt our feelings. How about this, we can provide the venue and costumes. And don't pay any money, let's convert it into an investment share.” Liu Jing patted his chest.

Chen Kaige was speechless. Judging from Liu Jing's expression and demeanor, he had assumed the other party was offering it for free. He was feeling quite honored when, unexpectedly, Liu Jing said the following words.

Joy was dashed like a bucket of cold water, and Chen Kaige's smile froze. "I won't be involved in the production. I'll have Chen Hong talk to you."

"Okay! I will arrange for Yuanyuan to connect with Auntie."

"Hmm." Chen Kaige suddenly lost interest in chatting. He never lacked investment for his films; this was practically a forced investment. But the existing locations and well-established costumes could indeed significantly reduce production costs.

Stellar Media and Shanghai Film Group are the two largest investors, and they both agree to cooperate with Spring Autumn. He has no choice but to negotiate, whether he wants to or not.

"Everyone's here. You five, get ready. The media will be asking you some questions later." Zhang Yimou finished his description to the leader.

"What's the problem?" Liu Jing frowned. No one had notified him beforehand; it was probably a last-minute decision made by someone.

"You must be Liu Jing? You're quite the handsome young man. I've often heard Lao An mention you." The leader chuckled. "The questions later will be relatively simple, about the inspiration, process, and insights behind the promotional video. You're all talented; these shouldn't be difficult for you. I hope you'll cooperate."

"We will definitely cooperate. Feel free to ask us any questions." Liu Jing said, "It seems this person is Uncle An's friend, otherwise he wouldn't call him Old An."

Chen Kaige sighed. He'd been led astray by this kid again. Oh well, he might as well give him a share.

"Haha, you are all heroes. Interviewing you is not to make things difficult for you, but to let everyone know about your contributions..."

The leader was good at talking, but Liu Jing had no interest in listening.

Tong Liya rushed over, glanced at Liu Jing, and their eyes met.

Her eyes were red and glistening with tears; she had just been crying.

Liu Jing frowned, not because of the crying; he had seen all kinds of crying during the rehearsals.

Some cried because they were scolded, some cried because they couldn't hold back, some cried because they were injured, and some cried because they missed their families.

Tong Liya was limping and had difficulty moving; she looked like she was injured.

Liu Jing walked over and sat down beside her. "Who bullied you? Or..."

Tong Liya is a professional dancer who has suffered many injuries during training, but she doesn't cry over minor injuries.

"I'm afraid I have to withdraw from the competition," Tong Liya said, her voice choked with emotion.

"You didn't hurt yourself on purpose, did you?" Liu Jing asked suspiciously.

"you……"

She had only been choking back tears, but now it was like a tap had been turned on, and she burst into tears.

Liu Jing felt a chill run down his spine. Although Tong Liya had chosen a seat in the corner, it couldn't withstand such a commotion.

Many people looked over and, upon recognizing Liu Jing, their eyes filled with amusement and understanding.
-
P.S.: Of the Four Great Talents, I like Cai Lan the most; I feel he is a man of strong character.

A symbol of an era, an epitome of Hong Kong culture, has now come to a complete end.

(End of this chapter)