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Time quietly slipped into 1956.

That year, a musical storm called "Elvis Presley" swept across the United States and even the world's entertainment industry with unstoppable force.

Elvis Presley's unique voice, a blend of country, blues, and gospel, and especially his controversial yet captivating signature hip-swaying dance moves, propelled him from an unknown truck driver to a superstar wildly idolized by teenagers across America...

"The Hillbilly Cat".

Elvis broke records for record sales, his shows were always sold out, and his image appeared on magazine covers and television screens.

Almost overnight, Elvis Presley became a household name.

Just as this "Elvis craze" reached its peak in the entertainment industry, a seemingly insignificant yet highly topical piece of news was unearthed in an entertainment section of a local Alabama newspaper and quickly spread:
[The King of Rock stayed in Greentown before he became famous! His inspiration came from local family-run guesthouses and innocent young boys?]

Next to the report was a precious photo taken by Mrs. Gan with a Polaroid camera back then...

Young and yet-to-be-famous Elvis stands on the porch of the Gan Family Inn, one arm around the smiling, honest Gan, and the other on the shoulder of the quiet, oriental boy, Su Ning. The beautiful little elf Jenny is dancing there, and in the background, a corner of the Gan Family Inn's sign can be seen.

The article vividly describes how Elvis Presley looked for work in Greenfield, how he stayed in Mrs. Forrest Gump's cozy bed and breakfast, and how he was inspired by Forrest Gump's pure and spontaneous dance moves, which led him to perfect his own amazing dance routine.

This report was like a drop of water being poured into a pot of boiling oil; it exploded instantly!
"The B&B where Elvis Presley stayed!"

"The inspiration for 'The Hound' may have come from this!"

"Want to experience the footsteps of the King of Rock? Head to Greentown, Alabama!"

Countless Elvis fans, along with curious tourists, began flocking to this once quiet and remote southern town from all directions.

Their only goal is Mrs. Gan's family-run guesthouse.

Almost the day after the news spread, Mrs. Gan's guesthouse's old-fashioned telephone became a hotline, ringing non-stop from morning till night with requests to book rooms.

The small building, which was only occasionally full, suddenly became fully booked every day, with reservations booked for several months in advance.

The once quiet dirt road in front of the house is now filled with cars from all over the country, bearing license plates from different states.

Fans held up their cameras and took photos outside the white fence of the guesthouse, trying to capture the lingering presence of their idols.

Some people even just want to sit for a while in the porch rocking chair where Elvis once sat, or stand in the courtyard where Elvis once strolled.

Faced with this sudden and unprecedented grand occasion, Mrs. Fowles Gan, after the initial shock and helplessness, immediately put her shrewd and tenacious business acumen to use.

They keenly realized that this was no longer just an ordinary guesthouse providing accommodation and home-cooked meals.

It carries a unique and compelling cultural memory.

Therefore, Mrs. Gan decisively and opportunistically raised the house price.

“Mom, our rooms are very ‘special’ now,” Suning calmly analyzed from the side. “They’re not just rooms, they’re ‘the places where Elvis once lived.’ Scarcity and uniqueness themselves give them greater value.”

Mrs. Gan wholeheartedly agreed.

She adjusted the house prices to a level that seemed "outrageous" to the town's residents, but were still within an acceptable range for enthusiastic fans and tourists who came from afar.

However, surprisingly, despite the price increase, tourists still flock to the hotel every day to inquire and hope to "snag" a bargain.

People are willing to pay higher prices just to experience a night "in the air that Elvis once breathed".

The income from the guesthouse grew exponentially, and Mrs. Gan even began to consider whether to rent the vacant land next door to expand it.

As a result, the family's living conditions improved dramatically.

Forrest Gump got more new toys and clothes, and Suning had more money to buy books and materials that interested him.

Mrs. Gan's smile was noticeably brighter than before, and her wrinkles seemed to radiate the satisfaction of overcoming hardship.

Looking at the excited tourists in the courtyard, and then at Su Ning and A Gan helping in the kitchen, I am filled with endless emotions.

"All of this is thanks to you, my Su Ning." She hugged her adopted son tightly in private, the one who had brought her countless surprises and good fortune. "If it weren't for you reminding me to take those photos back then, if it weren't for you..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but everything was understood without being said.

It was Suning's foresight that allowed this family to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Greentown has become more lively because of this "Elvis-themed B&B," and the small restaurants and grocery stores in the town have seen a significant increase in business.

The Gan family's guesthouse not only completely changed their own economic situation, but also unexpectedly boosted the popularity and vitality of the entire town.

For the Gan family, 1956 was truly the "Year of the Elvis," a year in which wealth and fame descended upon them like a sudden summer downpour in Alabama.

……

In early 1957, Elvis Presley's career was at its peak, and his concert tours swept the country, with tickets in high demand. On a beautifully printed special letter from Memphis arrived at Mrs. Gan's home in Greenfield.

The recipients were clearly written as: "To Mrs. Gan, Mr. Forrest Gan, Mr. Suning Gan, and Miss Jenny Cullen."

Mrs. Fowles Gan opened the envelope with a mixture of excitement and doubt. Inside were three VIP tickets with excellent seats and an invitation personally signed by Elvis Presley.

The invitation letter read:
To my dear Mrs. Gan, Fores, Suning and Jenny:

May God’s grace be with you.

I will never forget the peaceful time in Greentown, and the warmth and inspiration you gave me.

Especially the pure joy of Agana dancing to music, that was an important shining moment in my musical journey.

I cordially invite you to be my special guests at my concert in Memphis.

Looking forward to reuniting with you all and sharing music and joy.

Your forever friend, Elvis Presley

This letter caused a huge sensation in the Gan family!

Although Forrest Gump didn't fully understand the specific meaning of "concert," he knew that it was "Elvis, the one who can play guitar and sings very well," who had invited them, and he was so happy that he awkwardly spun around in the room.

Upon hearing the news, Jenny called from her grandmother's house, her voice filled with disbelief and excitement.

Mrs. Forrest Gan was so moved that she burst into tears. She never expected that the down-on-his-luck young man from back then would remember them after achieving success and express his gratitude in such a grand way.

On the day of the concert, Mrs. Gan personally drove her three neatly dressed children to Memphis.

Suning wore a well-fitting suit, looking calm and composed; Agan, unusually, wore a brand-new shirt and overalls, and although his movements were still clumsy due to the leg braces, his face was filled with uncontrollable joy; Jenny wore her prettiest floral dress, her golden hair carefully braided, looking like a little princess, her eyes full of anticipation.

They entered the venue through a special passage, avoiding the crowds.

Their seats were located in the front row center of the audience, in the VIP area with the best view.

The surrounding audience was noisy and excited, and the huge stage and lighting equipment created a dreamlike atmosphere.

When the lights suddenly dimmed and the audience erupted in a deafening roar of screams and cheers, Agan nervously grabbed Su Ning's hand next to him.

Jenny held her breath. Suddenly, a spotlight shone on the stage entrance, revealing that now-famous figure…

Elvis Presley, dressed in his signature sequined stage outfit, carrying a guitar, and sporting his signature slightly shy yet confident smile!

The music started; it was his hit song "Hound Dog," which was popular throughout the country.

The intense rhythm, infectious vocals, and his controversial yet captivating hip-swaying dance moves instantly ignited the entire venue!
The audience went wild, screaming and swaying to the rhythm.

Although Forrest Gump didn't understand the lyrics very well, the strong rhythm made him involuntarily, just like he used to do on the porch, clumsily but happily swaying his body to the music, completely immersed in the atmosphere of the music.

During a break in the performance, Elvis walked to the edge of the stage and spotted Mrs. Gan and her group sitting in the front row.

Elvis spoke into the microphone in his magnetic Southern accent, “Hey everyone, good evening! Tonight, I have a few special friends here.”

He smiled and pointed in the direction of Forrest Gump and the others, "Sitting over there is Mrs. Forrest from Greenfield, along with Forrest Gump, Suning, and the beautiful Miss Jenny!"

The spotlight immediately shone on Agan and his team, drawing tens of thousands of eyes from across the stadium.

Forrest Gump seemed a little lost, but he still smiled foolishly and waved.

Jenny lowered her head shyly, her cheeks flushed.

Suning maintained a calm smile, waving and smiling at the stage and the audience.

At this point, Elvis continued emotionally, "I want to say that before I became famous, it was Mrs. Forrest who gave me a warm and inexpensive place to stay and delicious food. And Forrest..."

He paused, then a genuine smile spread across his face. "I remember the way you danced freely to music, so pure, so joyful. Dude, your spontaneous sense of rhythm has given me some very important inspiration! Thank you, my dear friends!"

These words were amplified through the loudspeaker and echoed throughout the stadium, eliciting even more enthusiastic applause and cheers!
Countless people looked at Forrest Gump and his friends with envy.

In his subsequent performances, Elvis seemed even more immersed in the role.

He even specially sang a slow-paced, heartfelt country folk song, saying it was dedicated to "all pure hearts and precious friendships".

After the concert, Elvis personally received Mrs. Gan and her party backstage.

He gave Mrs. Gan a warm hug, patted Gan on the shoulder affectionately, praised Jenny for "growing up and becoming even more beautiful," and shook hands firmly with the composed Suning.

“Mrs. Gan, thank you for taking me in back then. Forrest Gump, thank you for the ‘inspiration’ you brought me. And Suning, little guy, you’re still as cool as ever,” Elvis said sincerely.

He took another group photo with them, and this time the photo appeared in the entertainment newspaper the following day.

On the way back to Greenfield Town, Forrest Gump was still excitedly gesturing about the concert scene and imitating Elvis's singing, though off-key, it was full of joy.

Jenny carefully put away the autographed photo Elvis had given her, a dreamy smile on her face.

Even the usually composed Mrs. Gan couldn't help but marvel at the wonder of fate the whole way.

For Suning, this experience not only fulfilled Forrest Gump and Jenny's wishes but also witnessed history.

More importantly, it further solidified the "legendary" connection between the Gan family and Elvis Presley.

This experience, along with the photos and stories that have been continuously reported by the media, will continue to bring immeasurable prestige and appeal to the Gan family's guesthouse, becoming a precious asset and unforgettable memory in their future lives.

That night, the starlight not only belonged to Elvis, but also briefly and dazzlingly illuminated these ordinary yet extraordinary people from Greenfield.

……

Elvis Presley's influence grew like a snowball.

Every new song he releases sparks a frenzy, and every television appearance he makes becomes a national topic of conversation. His image has become a cultural symbol for a generation of American youth.

As the "origin of Elvis Presley's inspiration" and "the place where Elvis lived before he became famous," the Gan Family Homestay has seen its popularity and appeal rise to an unprecedented peak.

Tourists and fans who came to admire him were no longer from the region, but from all over the United States, and even from Europe and Asia.

The road in front of Mrs. Gan's house has almost become a temporary stop for tour buses. The once quiet neighborhood is now filled with noise from all kinds of accents from morning to evening.

Faced with this surging business opportunity, Mrs. Fowles Gan demonstrated remarkable business acumen and foresight.

She clearly realized that the few rooms in her small building alone could not possibly meet the huge market demand.

Moreover, the long-term high-load operation has also put pressure on the buildings and old facilities.

After consulting with the increasingly mature Suning and receiving his strong support, Mrs. Gan made a decision that seemed extremely bold to the residents of Greenfield Town:

Using the substantial profits accumulated from the homestay, as well as some bank loans, they successively purchased three vacant or unsold residential houses next to the homestay and across the street!

This is no small project.

With the help of architects and construction teams, these originally stylistically diverse houses were cleverly transformed and integrated, preserving the characteristics of southern architecture while undergoing modern upgrades to ensure comfortable accommodation.

Together with the original main building, they form a nascent "Gan's Homestay Cluster".

The rapid expansion of scale naturally brought management challenges.

Mrs. Forrest Gan could no longer handle everything herself as she used to.

So she began hiring employees on a large scale.

She hired professional front desk staff to handle the increasing number of booking inquiries and check-ins; hired more cleaners to ensure that every room was quickly restored to cleanliness after guests checked out; expanded the kitchen team, including not only chefs but also kitchen helpers and waiters, to meet the demand for catering services; and even hired two gardeners to maintain the environment around several properties, making the entire area look more beautiful and pleasant.

Mrs. Gan herself gradually freed herself from trivial daily affairs and transformed into a true manager, responsible for overall operations, finances, and maintaining relationships with important clients.

As this new operating system gradually gets on track, one of the most direct changes is:
Suning was finally freed from the arduous work of helping out at a guesthouse.

Previously, he spent most of his time after school and on weekends helping with reception, registration, cleaning, and even preparing food in the kitchen.

Now, these tasks are all handled by dedicated personnel and are carried out in an orderly manner.

He no longer needs to change the sheets, wash the mountain of dishes, or take on the responsibility of preparing dinner in advance because his mother is busy.

When Suning returned home from school and saw a professional receptionist smilingly handling his affairs at the front desk, an unfamiliar chef busy in the kitchen, and a gardener pruning the flowers and plants in the yard, he felt a sense of relief.

Thanks to the joint efforts of the mother and him, this family has crossed an important threshold and entered a new, more stable and prosperous stage.

Mrs. Forrest Gan, looking at Su Ning who now has a lot of free time, often puts her arm around his shoulder with emotion and says, “My child, now it’s all good. You can finally spend your time like a real child, doing what you love—whether it’s reading, studying, or going out to play with Forrest and the others. You’ve worked so hard all these years.”

The family's wealth also brought about more obvious changes: the food on the family table was more plentiful, the children's clothes were more presentable, Agan had more rehabilitation aids, and Suning had a separate study and the absolute freedom to buy any books that interested him.

Mrs. Gan even planned to send her children to better schools once she had more money.

The booming bed and breakfast business acted like a powerful engine, not only completely changing the Gan family's economic situation, but also transforming Mrs. Forrest Gan from a single mother struggling to make ends meet into a successful entrepreneur.

Suning, the original core driving force, can finally retire gracefully and devote more energy to his own broader future plans.

This small industry in Greentown has become an indispensable footnote to the "Elvis legend" and continues to write its own story of prosperity.

...(End of chapter)