Rebirth of Chinese Entertainment, the Diary of a 95 Flower

Chapter 125 Neither of you is bright enough.
Jiang Yang's smile froze.

The act of petting the dog paused, and the gentle gaze that had been fixed on the dog instantly focused.

Suddenly I understood why Yang Chaoyue didn't let her dog lick her.

He abruptly pulled his hand back from petting the dog.

Jiang Yang leaned back slightly, stood up, and quickly scanned between the dog's mouth and his hand that had been licked.

I raised my hand and touched my cheek, which was half wet from the dog's licking, and felt like I was dying.

He yelled at the dog, "Go back to your den! Don't come out!"

After saying that, he hurriedly went to the well to pump water to wash his face and hands.

Mental breakdown.

He sat back down at the table.

I received a QQ message on my phone from Zhao Jinmai: "Are you there?"
Are you there?

Jiang Yang was a little uncomfortable with Zhao Jinmai's sudden change in manner, as if he and Hu Lin had complained about her.

Jiang Yang replied with a "yes".

Zhao Jinmai sent a message:
[“Brother Yang, can you take me out to play? Please, it’s rare that my mom isn’t around, and I’ve almost finished half of my homework. It won’t cost you any money, I have pocket money. Just take me out for a walk, I’m unfamiliar with Shanghai, I don’t have a phone, and I’m afraid to go far by myself. Or you can take me to your house to play.”]
Then another message came in: ["I didn't show your 'emo' photos to the crew. It's not your dark history. Actually, you're quite handsome."]
Zhao Jinmai was suddenly being so polite to me, and even the text messages she sent didn't have a Northeastern accent.

At such a young age, he's already getting into social niceties.

Why did he feel that Zhao Jinmai was trying to play hard to get with him?
Saying that his old "emo" photos were cool is just blatant lying.

We've put them in a difficult position.

Anyway, after this meal, I'll be heading back to Shanghai. I'll pick up Zhao Jinmai while I'm at it and maybe get some attribute points from her.

Jiang Yang replied, "You're staying at the Four Seasons Hotel in Songjiang District, right? Chao Yue and I drove out to find you a while ago."

Zhao Jinmai replied instantly.

Although Zhao Jinmai's expression wasn't visible, it was clear she was very happy, as her text began to show a Northeastern accent: ["Really? That's great! So you weren't just fooling me. Where are we going to go for a stroll later? Where are you guys now?"]
Jiang Yang sent a message: ["Arrived at Wanggang Village, Yancheng."]
After a few dozen seconds, Zhao Jinmai replied: ["Do you even know how to drive? If you had just asked Sister Chaoyue for directions, you wouldn't have driven this far."]
Jiang Yang sent a message: ["This is the way Yang Chaoyue pointed out."]
Zhao Jinmai replied: [“Both of them are hopelessly directionally challenged, neither of them is bright enough. If they had just used navigation, they wouldn’t have gone this far astray.”]
It is certain that Hu Lin is not with Zhao Jinmai.

His true nature was revealed.

She's not the obedient girl she is in front of the camera.

He got carried away with the cursing and even started cursing Chaoyue's older sister.

Jiang Yang typed: ["I came here using navigation."]
Zhao Jinmai replied: ["With your IQs, even navigation can't save you. From now on, just use a map when you drive."]
Seeing that Yang's father had finished cooking another dish, and that the Yang family, including himself and his daughter, would soon be sitting down to eat, Jiang Yang stopped teasing Zhao Jinmai.

I sent a message to Zhao Jinmai to explain the situation.

This trip is to sign an agreement with Yang Chaoyue's father. After returning, I'll pick up Zhao Jinmai to go out and play. I should be able to get to Zhao Jinmai's place around six or seven in the afternoon.

Zhao Jinmai excitedly invited Jiang Yang to play a game of Q Pet Brawl.

Back in my school days, I liked to play games with my classmates during breaks. We used Nokia phones back then, and they were text-based.

The Q-Pet Brawl ended quickly.

Jiangyang suffered a crushing defeat.

I used to have a really good set of techniques when I played.

They will choose their fighting style and formulate corresponding tactics based on the opponent's weapons and skills.

When facing an opponent with high defense, choose a skill that breaks through their defense.

To counter speed-based opponents, improve your reaction speed.

It will also activate support skills, increasing hit rate and evasion rate.

After more than a decade, I played this game again and felt completely rusty; I had forgotten all my skills.

If it were me in the past, I would definitely have won.

He messaged Zhao Jinmai: "[I'm getting old, not as strong as I used to be.]"
Zhao Jinmai replied: [“Where are you old? You're losing like a grandson.”]
Jiang Yang typed: ["I'm going to tell your mom you were secretly playing on the computer."]
Zhao Jinmai replied: [“Sue me if you want, I'm already stressed enough about writing exam papers.”]
"Send me Teacher Hu's phone number." Jiang Yang sent the message.

"Get lost!"
Upon receiving Zhao Jinmai's reply, Jiang Yang's profile picture turned gray.

It shouldn't be offline.

It's probably just pretending to go offline, but actually staying logged in on QQ.

QQ Farm received a notification that Zhao Jinmai had stolen his vegetables, eggs, and released insects.

Yang Chaoyue washed the dishes and put a plate of food on the table: "Brother Yang, this fish was bought by my father from the dock and killed on the spot. It wasn't frozen, so it's very fresh."

Braised mixed fish.

Fry the fish in rapeseed oil in an iron wok until both sides are golden brown.

It was braised with soy sauce, sugar, and dried chili peppers.

An affordable option for those living by the sea, with soft and chewable fish bones.

"There's still a dish of food left by your father. Eat it first if you're hungry. It's alright."

"Then I won't be polite."

Jiang Yang picked up his chopsticks and took a small piece of fish.

The fish meat is fresh and fragrant, and you can eat it along with the soft fish bones.

With the last dish of stir-fried garlic sprouts with salted pork served, all the dishes were complete.

Father Yang untied his apron and sat down at the table.

The three raised their bowls and clinked glasses. Yang's bowl contained Yancheng Daqu, a 52-proof bulk liquor. Jiang Yang and Yang Chaoyue's bowls contained coconut juice.

There were some vermicelli and fish bones in the dog bowl.

Yang Chaoyue talked about how he went with Jiang Yang to interview and audition at Canxing Company in Shanghai, acted as an extra in Xiangshan Film and Television City, and met TV director Wang at the Songjiang District Film and Television Base in Shanghai. He bypassed the document screening process, went directly to audition, and got a supporting role.

They had a very enjoyable conversation.

As they chatted, they put down their bowls and began imitating the filming actions they had seen on set.

When he got excited, he suddenly stood up and gestured as if he were moving around.

What is improvisation? What is camera presence? What is wrapping up filming? What is a producer?

There are also light markers, talent agencies, and actor billing.

Yang's father couldn't understand anything.

He looked intently at his daughter's lips, trying to understand what she was saying.

They gave up quickly.

Suddenly I realized that Yueyue and I were no longer in the same world.

Yang's father's eyes went slightly unfocused, but he quickly regained his composure.

I felt both proud and helpless.

He grinned with satisfaction, repeating to himself, "That girl's grown up so much, she's become a beautiful young lady."

No longer the little Yueyue who drew on the walls with charcoal, stole candy, cried loudly when her foot got caught in a bicycle wheel, and wanted to turn the tables after losing a fight with the neighbor.

She's become prettier.

They've matured.

It also makes me feel further away from myself.

I felt both gratified and wistful.

Father Yang laughed and said, "He's much more capable than me."

Yang Chaoyue paused for a second as he picked up food, then placed a piece of fish on his father's plate.

While you're at it, fill up your father's glass with wine.

When I was little, I always praised my dad for being amazing.

Back then, when I looked up at my father, I felt that he was as tall as a giant, especially when he wore his military uniform, his shoulders were broad and thick.

When I grew up, I found out that my father wasn't very tall, only a little over 1.6 meters.

He was half a head shorter than he is now.

I don't know when it started, but little by little I realized that my father, who I once thought was all-powerful, was actually just an ordinary person.

My childhood illusions have shattered.

The father I once looked up to was actually ordinary and fragile.

There are things that cannot be done, and dreams that must be abandoned.

There's a knot in my heart that I can't untie.

Jiang Yang continued eating, oblivious to the fact that he couldn't understand the Yancheng dialect or what the father and daughter were whispering about.

At the same time, be wary of whether Yang Chaoyue's sycophant is secretly fawning over him.

Father Yang didn't understand any of this; he only knew to do his best to use his culinary skills to entertain Jiang Yang well.

Every now and then you can see Yang Chaoyue and his father chatting and laughing heartily.

Jiang Yang enjoyed the meal in a relaxed and comfortable manner.

Wu You Drunken Snails have tender and crisp snail meat, and the shells are full of marinade, which gives a slight burst of flavor when sucked.

The shredded chicken and vermicelli soup is smooth yet chewy.

The taro paste in the taro and dried shrimp soup is mixed with the rice water for a simple and sweet flavor.

The fish bones in the braised mixed fish are so tender they can be chewed, and the fish meat peels off layer by layer like garlic cloves. The moment you bite into the fish skin, the aroma of the sauce mixed with the sour and salty flavor of the pickled mustard greens bursts out.

The last dish, stir-fried garlic sprouts with salted pork, had the fatty parts of the pork thoroughly cooked, while the lean meat fibers were clearly visible, offering a savory and slightly sweet aftertaste.

It is indeed the authentic cooking experience that can only be found in Yancheng.

"Boss Jiang, I respect you! Thanks to your help, Yueyue has become so successful today. I really want to thank you for giving Yueyue this opportunity."

Yang Chaoyue saw his father suddenly pick up the porcelain bowl with both hands, stand up, and bow slightly to Jiang Yang.

Every time she went for an audition, she maintained the same respectful attitude towards the interviewer.

Jiang Yang quickly stood up and bowed to Yang's father as well.

You can feel the simplicity in Grandpa Yang's Yancheng dialect, just like the shell of the Wuyou Drunken Snail on the table—rough on the outside, but rich and delicious on the inside.

But the problem is.

I didn't understand a word.

Jiang Yang turned to Yang Chaoyue and whispered, "What is your dad mumbling about so fast? Translate it."

(End of this chapter)