1990s: Spring Water Family

Chapter 134: The Final Filming of the Documentary - Jinan Welcomes You
"Da Gang's surname is Yang, not Lin."

"So what if he's not surnamed Lin? He's still better than your son. Your son only graduated from junior high and didn't even get into high school. How dare you say he's a good student and has a bright future?"

“He’s still my son after he graduated from junior high school, my mother’s own grandson.”

“My son is also my mother’s grandson.”

When a conflict of interest arose, the younger brother and sister-in-law, each unwilling to yield to the other, started arguing.

"okay."

The old lady was getting a headache from their arguing: "In front of outsiders, you two should each keep your mouth shut."

"It's settled then."

Having achieved his goal, Gu Bin tossed out a business card, his mocking smile deepening: "You've reached an agreement, so feel free to contact me anytime."

"Okay, thank you."

My uncle snatched it away, and at that moment he looked at him as if he were his own grandfather, his gaze filled with fervent affection.

"You guys continue, I'm leaving now."

Gu Bin found it a bit too much to bear and, not wanting to linger any longer, pushed off with his foot and rode his mountain bike away from the TV station.

-

The renovation of houses in the old town that were not demolished was proceeding in an orderly manner. After a period of time, the dilapidated courtyard walls were painted white, and the leaky roofs were renovated. At a glance, the small bridges and flowing water, gray roofs and white walls, had a charm reminiscent of the water towns of Jiangnan.

After renovation, the Prince's Mansion Pond has been completely transformed. The low fences have been replaced by stone railings with carved beams and painted rafters, which are characteristic of the old city.

During the day, people from the neighborhood committee patrol the area, and no one swims there. The usually noisy pool becomes quiet, and the water is unusually clear and clean.

Director Du led the crew to Wangfu Pond for the final filming.

Lin Xiyu, Wu Meng, Wang Fan, and Li Liang all came. It was a rare occasion to get together with the production team again, and everyone was very happy and chatted enthusiastically.

"The Baihuazhou area is much prettier than before after this renovation."

Director Du was very satisfied with the results of the renovation and praised it highly: "The city leaders' decision was correct. The old city has been given a new look. From now on, this place will become a calling card for Jinan and attract a large number of tourists to visit."

"The well in my yard has a name now."

Wu Meng said happily, "The Culture and Tourism Bureau brought experts and designated that well as one of the new Seventy-Two Famous Springs. They gave it a nice name, Guanquan. Hehe, from now on, our family will have spring water too."

"The bright moon shines among the pines, and the clear spring flows over the rocks."

Lin Xiyu gave a thumbs-up to express her admiration: "You are the true people of the spring."

"Come, come, Miss Wu Meng!"

Wang Fan, deliberately being funny, snatched the microphone from Li Yan's hand and pointed it at her mouth: "Tell the viewers in front of the TV what it's like to grow up drinking spring water? Do you feel particularly smart? Or particularly healthy, and even have a particularly strong luck with women?"

"screw you"

When Wu Meng heard the first two sentences, he was a little smug. But when he heard the last sentence, "luck with women," his instinctive reaction was that the man was making fun of him.

The thought that he and Qu Peng were best buddies and knew all the stupid things she had done during her three years of high school made her extremely annoyed, and she couldn't help but feel an urge to kick him away.

"That Qu Peng guy, he went to Beijing and hasn't come back yet?"

Clearly, she wasn't the only one whose thoughts were drawn to Qu Peng.

Li Liang glanced at her seemingly indifferently and asked the question that had been on everyone's mind.

"almost."

Gu Bin smiled jokingly and gave an unexpected answer: "Sixth Grandfather has already agreed to come to Jinan to attend my engagement banquet with Xi Yu. He should come back with Sixth Grandfather."

"Engagement banquet?"

"Are you two getting engaged?"

As expected, this statement caused a stir.

The entire production team, including Director Du, showed expressions of surprise and delight.

"Isn't it a bit fast to get engaged in just two months?"

Wang Fan felt a pang of jealousy and blurted out what was on his mind.

"Compared to Li Liang and Wu Meng, we are already considered slow."

In front of everyone, Gu Bin grasped Lin Xiyu's hand, asserting his ownership: "Both families' elders have agreed, and we plan to hold a banquet before the start of school in mid-September to finalize the matter."

"Xi Yu, that's great, congratulations!"

Li Yan was genuinely happy for the two of them, and rushed over first to hug Lin Xiyu, giving her a warm bear hug.

"Congratulations."

Wu Meng also came over, opened her arms, and hugged the two of them together: "You finally got your wish and picked the most dazzling school heartthrob in our school."

"Ah."

Director Du chuckled, a rare display of humor in his voice: "The women are hugging each other so affectionately, shouldn't we men follow suit?"

"I have no opinion."

Gu Bin played along, opening his arms wide: "Whoever goes first, I'll join them."

"I come."

Li Liang was the first to walk over and give him a warm hug.

"Hey, aren't you two disgusting?"

Wang Fan shook his arm as if disgusted: "Two grown men, hugging and cuddling in broad daylight, what kind of behavior is that?"

"Among us brothers, Gu Bin and I have the closest relationship. We're not blood brothers, but we're closer than blood brothers."

Li Liang let go of Gu Bin, then put his arm around his shoulder like a close friend: "Brother, you're getting engaged, what's wrong with a hug? You can't have this kind of brotherhood even if you want to."

"That's going a bit too far."

Wang Fan was displeased and deliberately mocked him: "You're making a fool of yourself by wearing open-crotch pants. There are women here, don't you watch your words?"

"Who the hell said open-crotch pants?"

Li Liang laughed in anger and kicked him, saying, "Only someone with your stupid brain could think of something so twisted."

"Let me give you a hug too."

The cameraman found it amusing and was also intrigued. He put the camera down and tried to rush over and hug Gu Bin.

As luck would have it, Wu Meng just released Lin Xiyu at that moment and bumped into him as she stepped back.

The cameraman had a bad day; he tripped over his own camera and stumbled forward, falling to the ground.

"Be careful."

A gasp of surprise rippled through the crowd.

Everyone watched as he lunged forward, and the moment he landed, he frantically grabbed Li Yan's skirt.

"Tear."

With a piercing sound of tearing fabric, the world fell silent.

"You filthy scoundrel, I'm going to kill you!"

A moment later, Li Yan's loudest roar, eight octaves higher, echoed from the Prince's Palace pond.

-

Wu Meng lived nearby and accompanied Li Yan back to her own home, where she changed into a new dress.

The brief incident had no impact on the subsequent filming.

Director Du had enjoyed a good show for free and was in high spirits. When the two returned, he greeted the group of young men and women with a smile: "You guys come here, let's shoot one last scene."

"Coming."

Lin Xiyu and the others happily gathered around, followed his instructions, and smiled at the camera.

Jinan welcomes you!

-

"OK."

Director Du gave an OK sign, indicating his satisfaction with the performance of the boys and girls.

"Is this the end?"

As the final scene ended, the documentary filming came to a complete close, and the boys and girls all looked like they wanted more.

Even the most beautiful encounters eventually come to an end.

Director Du emotionally wiped away the tears welling up in his eyes: "Thank you everyone for your continued support of the production team."

"Director Du, we'll miss you."

Wang Fan deliberately acted strangely, rushing over in a trembling voice and hugging Director Du.

"I also."

Director Du's words, "I'm also reluctant to part with you all," made him shudder, and he swallowed his words back.

"Hahaha." The other staff members of the production team rarely saw Director Du's embarrassing situation, and they slapped their thighs and laughed heartily.

-

"Sister Yan, when will the documentary officially air?"

Gu Bin ignored Wang Fan's joke and turned to Li Yan: "Once you've set the dates, don't forget to let us know."

"necessary."

Li Yan nodded with a smile: "You too, once the date for the engagement banquet is set, you should let us know too, so we can come and support you."

"Thank you, Sister Yan."

Gu Bin cupped his hands in thanks.

"Xi Yu, is the dress finished?"

Li Yan then looked at Lin Xiyu and affectionately took her arm.

What kind of dress?

Lin Xiyu was taken aback and failed to understand her meaning.

"The dress you wore to the engagement party?"

Li Yan looked surprised: "You haven't done it yet, have you?"

"No."

Lin Xiyu's ears turned red, and her eyes showed embarrassment and annoyance: "This was all Gu Bin's own decision. He never mentioned the engagement to me before, so I wasn't prepared at all."

"You can't do it this way."

Li Yan was both amused and exasperated: "A girl's engagement is a major life event, so she has to dress up beautifully."

"Xi Yu, why don't you let my mom make it for you?"

Wu Meng suggested, "My mom can make cheongsams. The cheongsam I wore on my engagement day was made by my mom herself."

"Cheongsams are great."

Li Yan's eyes lit up, and she agreed: "I remember when Xi Yu made a guest appearance on a show, she wore a cheongsam. Her looks and figure were impeccable, she was incredibly beautiful."

Is it too late to make a cheongsam now?

Lin Xiyu was moved by her words, and her eyes showed anticipation.

"It's not too late"

Wu Meng has great confidence in her mother: "My mom is an expert at making clothes. As long as you want them, she'll make sure you're satisfied."

"go a head."

Gu Bin did not disappoint her: "September 9th is an auspicious day, and I plan to hold the engagement banquet on that day."

"The 9th is still possible; there are still several days left."

Wu Meng counted on her fingers: "My mom can definitely make it."

"OK"

Lin Xiyu was overjoyed: "The filming is over, let's go to your house now."

"to make."

Wu Meng couldn't wait any longer and grabbed her and ran.

"Hey, you two, don't go yet."

Li Yan, standing behind, waved her arm and shouted, "Wu Meng's clothes are still with me."

"It's ok."

As Wu Meng ran, she said, "That dress is old, Sister Yan, you can keep it and wear it. You don't need to return it."

"Hey, those two girls are really fast."

Li Yan, wearing high heels, chased after him for a couple of steps but couldn't catch up, so she had to give up.

"It's just a dress."

Gu Bin chuckled and joked, "Her family owns a tailor shop, so they have no shortage of clothes. If you don't believe me, ask Li Liang; he knows better than anyone else."

"Ah."

Li Liang nodded in agreement.

"alright."

Li Yan smiled helplessly: "Since you put it that way, I won't be coy. When I have time, I'll ask her mother to make a few more dresses for her to wear in rotation."

"Thank you on behalf of her mother."

Gu Bin nudged Li Liang with his elbow and then joked with a smile, "Although I'm not her son-in-law."

"Cough cough."

Li Liang's ears turned red, and he looked down at his nose, pretending not to hear.

"Li Liang's family will be moving away soon, right?"

Li Yan, true to her journalistic nature, seized the opportunity to ask, "Have you found a place to live? Are you feeling a little reluctant to leave?"

"There is reluctance, but also anticipation."

Li Liang said frankly, "After the old city was renovated, the living environment has been greatly improved. Moving away is only temporary. I am looking forward to the old city in two years. By then, it will definitely be more prosperous and beautiful than it is now."

"well said."

Li Yan nodded and then asked, "Have you found temporary accommodation? Are there any difficulties? Do you need our help?"

"No need, thank you, Sister Yan."

Li Liang politely declined, saying, "Gu Bin helped me find a house in the military compound, and I'll be moving tomorrow."

"So fast?"

Li Yan was slightly surprised: "You're moving tomorrow? You're not staying a few more days?"

"No."

Li Liang explained with a smile, "The demolition office issued a notice a long time ago, saying that we must move out within two months. We are considered to be moving late. Many of our neighbors have left, and many houses are now empty."

Where is Xiyu?

Li Yan then looked at Gu Bin: "When is her family moving?"

"Around the time of the engagement."

Gu Bin didn't tell Li Yan what happened later, and made up a perfunctory excuse: "Her grandmother came to cause trouble, and she couldn't stay on Donghua Street anymore, so she moved away to save herself the trouble and prevent them from causing trouble every day."

"Too."

Li Yan recalled the old lady's unreasonable behavior and spoke up for Lin Xiyu: "That family is really too difficult to deal with. Luckily you were there, otherwise it would have been really troublesome for Xiyu to handle on her own."

"What happened again?"

Li Liang glanced at Gu Bin sideways and joked with a smile, "I've noticed you've been very busy lately, one thing after another."

"this is life."

Gu Bin smiled indifferently: "Having a girlfriend is something you have to face."

"Tsk."

Li Liang clicked his tongue, speechless: "You get all cocky just because I'm nice to you."

"He's just showing off."

Wang Fan also took the opportunity to vent his frustration: "So what if he has a girlfriend? It's like he's the only one who does!"

"Stop being so sour?"

Gu Bin patted him on the shoulder and smiled jokingly: "Instead of wasting time on this, you should find a new person to replace Liu Ye as the store manager in Jinan. Liu Ye has gone to Beijing, and you will soon be going to Shanghai. Jinan can't do without a reliable person keeping an eye on things."

Do you think Lin Xiyu's cousin is suitable?

With something serious to do, Wang Fan instantly forgot about his jealous and envious feelings.

"She has a bit of a talent for business, but she's still too green."

Gu Bin has a keen eye for people and decisively rejected the idea: "You'd be better off having your dad find you a professional manager."

"Row."

Wang Fan had no objection: "I'll contact my dad right now and ask him to recommend a few people to me."

"besides."

Gu Bin thought for a moment and then said, "Find out their backgrounds clearly, and don't get involved with your brothers and sisters. Be careful of traitors who might bring in wolves."

"You're right."

Wang Fan felt a toothache when he thought about his troublesome family members.