Shadow of Chinese Entertainment

Chapter 191 Shrimp and Wine

October 2, 8pm.

The banquet hall of Songlanshan Seaview Hotel was as bright as day, with dozens of round tables neatly arranged.

Two or three hundred people from the film crew sat down, their conversations and laughter mingling together, creating a lively atmosphere in every inch of the air.

Some people gesticulated wildly, excitedly recounting embarrassing incidents they encountered while filming. When they got to the exciting parts, their eyes narrowed into slits and the corners of their mouths turned up high.

The people around him laughed so hard they were bent over, some even slapping their thighs, almost laughing to tears.

Some people pulled their partners along, gesturing with their hands as they shared the stunning scenery and unforgettable moments they encountered while taking photos, their faces beaming with delight and their eyes filled with longing.

Nearby, Jiang Xiaohui, the director and cinematographer of the documentary "The Return of the Condor Heroes," was holding a camera, steadily capturing the footage of the crew members, seemingly wanting to preserve these precious memories without missing a single one.

On each table in the hall, nine dishes are arranged in an orderly manner, including chicken, duck, fish, meat, and shrimp.

The rising steam, carrying a rich aroma, filled the entire hall, filling everyone's nostrils and making their mouths water.

The drinks were placed in the center of each table: several bottles of beer, a bottle of baijiu (Chinese liquor), and brightly colored cola, Sprite, and orange juice, gleaming enticingly under the lights.

At some tables, some brothers with forthright personalities and no fuss over details were eating meat and drinking wine in large bowls.

They had already devoured most of the food and were now chatting happily, completely unconcerned about the grease stains on their lips.

On some tables, however, the dishes were still neatly arranged, and some people were discreetly looking around, occasionally exchanging a few words in hushed tones, their eyes constantly darting through the crowd, clearly not focusing on the food.

The camera slowly pans to the table where Yu Minjie, Big Beard, Zhou Xiaowen, Zhao Tianba, Lin Feng, Huang Xiaoming and his mother, An Xiaoqian and her daughter, Hu Xiaobei and others are sitting.

Liu Xiaoli sat to the left of her daughter An Xiaoqian, skillfully picking up the shrimp from her bowl.

With a deft flick of her fingers, she easily separated the shrimp shell from the meat, revealing a plump shrimp in an instant.

Instead of eating herself, she gently placed the shrimp into her daughter's bowl, a tender smile on her lips, and said softly, "Xixi, try this shrimp, it's very fresh."

An Xiaoqian picked up a shrimp and put it in her mouth, chewing it slowly. Her eyes instantly lit up like twinkling stars in the night sky.

A satisfied smile spread across her face as she happily exclaimed, "Mom, this shrimp is so fresh! I'll peel one too!"

Hearing her daughter's words, Liu Xiaoli felt a warmth in her heart, secretly marveling at how her daughter had grown up and learned to be considerate and filial to her mother. Her eyes were filled with joy.

As An Xiaoqian happily told her mother about how delicious the shrimp was, the image of Hu Xiaobei eating shrimp suddenly popped into her mind.

Whenever Hu Xiaobei eats prawns, he is too lazy to peel them or remove the head and tail, and instead just stuffs the whole prawn into his mouth.

Thinking of this, An Xiaoqian's lips unconsciously curled up, revealing a look that was both amused and annoyed, her eyes curving into crescent shapes.

She picked up a shrimp with her hand, held the shrimp firmly with her left hand, and carefully began to peel the shell with her right hand. Her movements were serious and focused, as if she were doing something extremely important.

After peeling the shrimp, she didn't eat any herself. Instead, she looked up at Hu Xiaobei on her right, put the shrimp into his bowl, and said with a hint of anticipation in her eyes, "Xiaobei, these shrimp are so fresh, you should try them."

Hu Xiaobei looked at the shrimp in the bowl, then at An Xiaoqian, his eyes full of helplessness. He shook his head with a smile and said nonchalantly, "Hmm, don't peel them for me next time. It's too much trouble to eat them."

“But it tastes better this way, and it’s more hygienic!” An Xiaoqian pouted slightly, her cheeks puffed out, clearly not agreeing with his idea.

As Liu Xiaoli watched this scene, her expression gradually froze. She then shook her head helplessly, a look of bewilderment on her face. In her heart, she sighed, "So... I was just being delusional!"

At this moment, the waiter carried new dishes and moved steadily between the bustling tables, placing the steaming dishes on the table with ease.

The sounds of laughter and clattering cutlery mingled together around her, but amidst the hustle and bustle, An Xiaoqian's gaze remained fixed on Hu Xiaobei.

She watched as Hu Xiaobei chatted happily with others, seemingly unconcerned about the shrimp she had carefully peeled, and couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Her eyes dimmed, her lips drooped slightly, and her initial expectation was gradually replaced by desolation.

Then he remembered the boast he had made about drinking on set, and a strange feeling welled up inside him.

She took a deep breath, as if to encourage herself, and reached for the beer bottle on the table. Her slender fingers gripped the bottle tightly, as if she were about to pour herself a glass.

This scene happened to fall into Hu Xiaobei's eyes.

He reacted quickly, reaching out to stop the beer bottle immediately. His brows furrowed, and he said in a serious tone, "Xixi, what are you doing? What are you doing drinking alcohol as a minor?" His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable firmness.

An Xiaoqian looked up at him, a hint of stubbornness flashing in her eyes. Her lips pouted, and her cheeks flushed slightly as she softly expressed her emotions: "I'm an adult now, why can't I drink?"

As she spoke, she gently shook the beer bottle that Hu Xiaobei was holding down, as if in silent resistance, and twisted her wrist a few times, trying to break free from Hu Xiaobei's hand.

Hu Xiaobei looked at her, his gaze growing increasingly firm, showing no sign of backing down: "No means no. Drinking is bad for your health. You're still young, don't touch these things."

His tone was both caring and stern, like that of a brother or father, and his gaze was fixed on An Xiaoqian, trying to make her understand the seriousness of the matter.

An Xiaoqian was unconvinced and wanted to argue a few more points.

Just as he was about to speak, Hu Xiaobei added softly, "Why are you drinking? Do you really think alcohol is that good? I feel sick just smelling it. Listen to me, don't drink, be good."

He frowned slightly, a look of disgust on his face, as if he had been irritated by some pungent smell. He even wrinkled his nose slightly, as if the mere mention of the smell of alcohol made him very uncomfortable.

Upon hearing this, An Xiaoqian's stubborn expression instantly changed, and she slowly loosened her grip on the beer bottle.

She stared at Hu Xiaobei for a moment, as if to confirm whether he was telling the truth, or perhaps she was worried about something.

A hint of hesitation flashed in her eyes, but in an instant, she sighed softly, her tense shoulders relaxed, and her overall demeanor weakened.

When she looked up at Hu Xiaobei, her eyes softened, her lips parted slightly, and her voice was soft and obedient as she whispered, "Okay, since you say it doesn't taste good, then I won't drink it either."

After saying that, she placed the beer bottle back on the table steadily. The stubbornness in her eyes completely disappeared, replaced by a gentle look, along with a hint of barely perceptible relief.

During the banquet, the bearded man slowly stood up, raised his glass with his right hand, cleared his throat, and slowly scanned the entire room with a touch of emotion on his face: "Today is the thirtieth day of the lunar calendar, and we are all gathered together like a family."

I think this is an unforgettable day for us. We all came together, truly fighting for an ideal.

This ideal is... and it will be realized next year, around this time, during the Spring Festival.

I think the whole nation will see a very excellent, touching, and romantic TV series – our "The Return of the Condor Heroes".

So, everyone has left their families and homes to work here together, all for that day.

I want to thank everyone here for their hard work. Thank you all, thank you to my colleagues and comrades.

"Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous New Year! Cheers!" With that, he raised his right hand again, gesturing for everyone to drink together.

The crew members were very supportive, clapping, whistling, and cheering.

After the bearded man finished speaking briefly and seeing that the photographer had finished recording, he didn't say anything more and sat down.

While enjoying their New Year's Eve dinner, the crew members occasionally glanced at the live broadcast of the Spring Festival Gala, laughing heartily at the wonderful performances.

Laughter, the clatter of bowls and chopsticks, and the sound effects of the Spring Festival Gala blended together to create a lively symphony.

(End of this chapter)