Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 122 Persuading Family Members
A timely snowfall heralds a bountiful year, a time for family reunions; it's Lunar New Year's Eve once again.

As night falls and the city lights begin to twinkle, thousands of lights illuminate the tranquil night, their brilliance like stars dotting the night sky.

The Song family home was filled with warmth and peace. As in previous years, they brought their grandparents from the courtyard house in Nanluoguxiang to their home, and the five family members, spanning three generations, celebrated the Spring Festival together.

The family spent the afternoon preparing a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner. Plates of delicious-looking dishes were arranged neatly on the table, steaming hot and fragrant, making everyone's mouth water.

The whole family sat around the table enjoying the delicious food. Song Ci glanced at the delectable dishes on the table and noticed that this year's New Year's Eve dinner was particularly lavish.

There are dumplings made by Grandma Song, symbolizing reunion and happiness; there is braised pork carefully cooked by Mom Liu Xiaoxian, with an enticing color, which means that the coming year will be prosperous; even Dad Song Zhang showed off his skills with a special fish dish with soy sauce, which means that there will be abundance year after year and a rich life.

The family of five was filled with laughter and joy. Song Ci, who rarely gets to drink, raised his glass with his loved ones and drank together. The crisp clinking of glasses seemed to tell the story of the past year and express their hopes for the new year.

After the New Year's Eve dinner, apart from Song Ci, my parents and grandparents all sat on the sofa watching the Spring Festival Gala for the Year of the Dog.

This is a long-standing tradition of the Song family. No matter how wonderful or not the program is, they must watch the Spring Festival Gala every year, otherwise it always feels like something is missing from the New Year's atmosphere.

At that moment, a singing program called "Auspicious Three Treasures" was playing on the television. The melodious singing, with two adults and one child singing in perfect harmony, instantly captivated thousands of viewers in front of the television with their pure voices.

The simple and heartwarming lyrics, along with the catchy melody, are like a gentle breeze that touches the hearts of the audience.

The little girl's innocent voice echoed her parents' singing, conveying the warmth and happiness of family and making people feel the preciousness of kinship.

Grandma Song immediately fell in love with the song upon hearing it and wanted her beloved grandson to hear this beautiful and heartwarming piece, "The Auspicious Three Treasures."

He looked up from the screen and glanced at Song Ci, who was in the living room seemingly rummaging through something. He then asked his son and daughter-in-law curiously, "What are you fiddling with over there on New Year's Day?"

Song Zhang and Liu Xiaoxian exchanged a glance and shook their heads. Their son had finished dinner and was in the living room, busy with something, they wondered.

Grandma Song snorted irritably, "You guys completely let New Year's Day run its course!"

Then she raised her voice and called out towards the living room, "New Year's Day, come over and have some fruit and rest for a bit, and listen to this song with Grandma."

What was Song Ci doing? He was in the living room fiddling with his father's cigarettes and alcohol, preparing to pick out some good cigarettes and alcohol as New Year's gifts for Liu Shishi's house.

As the chief surgeon at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Song Zhang's living room is always overflowing with cigarettes and alcohol gifts from relatives and friends during holidays.

Song Zhang himself neither smokes nor drinks, and he doesn't really want to accept these gifts during holidays. However, China is a society based on personal relationships, and social interactions are always unavoidable. Sometimes, if you don't accept them, the other party will be unhappy and think that you look down on them.

Song Zhang usually gives away most of the cigarettes, alcohol and other gifts he receives each year to his father-in-law, brother-in-law, or hospital leaders and colleagues; he hardly keeps any for his own family.

Having established a relationship with his childhood sweetheart for over a year, Song Ci planned to formally visit Miss Liu's family during the Chinese New Year this year. Naturally, he couldn't arrive empty-handed, so he planned to ask her father for some cigarettes and alcohol.

It's not that I can't afford Song Ci (a type of Chinese poetry), it's just that my house is full of high-quality cigarettes and alcohol. Anyway, my dad is giving them away, so I'll take some to give to his future in-laws to save myself the trouble of going out to buy more. It's a win-win situation.

Hearing her grandmother's call, Song Ci thought for a while, picked up two packs of cigarettes of different brands, and went to the sofa.

Holding up a pack of cigarettes in one hand to show to his father, he didn't forget to ask, "Dad, which of these two packs of cigarettes is better?"

Song Zhang was eating sunflower seeds and watching the Spring Festival Gala when he heard his son's question. He glanced at him and shook his head: "I don't know."

Song Ci immediately retorted with dissatisfaction, "Dad, you dare to accept holiday gifts from others without even knowing their price? What if something goes wrong one day?"

Upon hearing this, Song Zhang glared fiercely at his unfilial son in front of him and replied irritably, "Pah, pah, pah, you jinx! Can't you wish for something good for your father?"

I don't smoke myself and haven't paid attention to the prices of various brands of cigarettes, so I really don't know the prices. But they're probably all around 1000 yuan a carton.

"Your dad never accepts red envelopes from patients' families during surgery; we're already among the most honest and incorruptible in the hospital."

Song Ci was speechless for a moment. Her father, Song Zhang, was able to become the head of surgery at a top hospital in the country at such a young age. This was partly due to his outstanding abilities and the appreciation of the hospital leaders.

Furthermore, Song Zhang understands social etiquette and knows how to maintain a proper balance. Sometimes, those who are aloof and unapproachable don't do well in life.

"No, you don't even smoke, why are you asking me this for no reason?"

Song Ci smiled and explained, "I'm going to visit Shishi's family tomorrow to pay my respects for the New Year. It's a formal visit, and I can't go empty-handed during the New Year. You don't want to enjoy these cigarettes and alcohol, so I'll give them to Shishi's father as a New Year's gift."

Song Zhang gave a thumbs up: "What a filial son you are, thank you so much."

Grandma Song exclaimed with delight, "You're going to visit Xiao Shishi's family tomorrow for New Year's Day?"

The man is to visit the woman's family on the first day of the Lunar New Year. This is of great significance, as she has been looking forward to her grandson getting married. She quickly patted her husband beside her and said, "Old man, hurry up and help me with the New Year's Day."

In his youth, Grandpa Song indulged in both smoking and drinking. He adjusted his black-rimmed reading glasses and glanced at the cigarettes in his grandson's hand, the packaging of which was either gold or red, creating a striking contrast.

"A carton of slim Liqun cigarettes costs 1,000 yuan, and a carton of Zhonghua 329 costs 950 yuan. The prices are about the same, but some men don't like smoking slim cigarettes, so give them Zhonghua instead."

Song Ci nodded without further hesitation: "Okay, then I'll send two cartons of cigarettes and two bottles of Moutai. That should be enough, right?"

Grandma Song smiled kindly and said, "Silly child, four is auspicious. Who gives only two gifts for the New Year? It's always at least four. Also, don't just focus on your father-in-law, you have to please your mother-in-law too."

Song Ci smiled broadly and said confidently, "I haven't forgotten my mother-in-law. I bought her a set of high-end cosmetics before the New Year. I also have a box of bird's nest at home, so bringing that will make a total of four gifts."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiaoxian, who had been silent for a long time, immediately became angry, with a hint of jealousy in her voice, and said sarcastically, "Oh, she's not even married yet, and she's already so filial."

Grandma Song defended her grandson, saying to her daughter-in-law, "Yuandan is still very filial. Last year for your birthday, he bought you a jade bracelet and a jade pendant, which are all expensive items."

With her in-laws present, and it being New Year's Eve, a time for family reunion, Liu Xiaoxian knew this wasn't the time to lose her temper. She could only furrow her brow, her face full of displeasure as she sulked. Song Ci, seeing her mother's reaction, couldn't help but sigh. She had argued fiercely with her mother when the fifth episode of "My Own Swordsman" aired that day, and now that the whole family was together, she planned to have a proper talk with her.

Song Ci quietly walked to her mother's side, gently squatted down, her eyes full of concern. "Mom, why do you get so unhappy whenever Shishi is mentioned?"

Song Ci's voice was soft and warm, like a spring breeze trying to dispel the gloom in her mother's heart. She gently held her mother's hands, feeling the coldness in her palms and their slight trembling.

"Mom, you used to treat Shishi very well, and you never objected to what I liked. You've always been reasonable. Why have you changed so much lately?"

Liu Xiaoxian stared at her son's handsome face and replied seriously, "Song Ci, your grandparents are here today too. I'll calmly explain things to you during the New Year."

Liu Shishi and you were childhood sweethearts, and you were deeply in love. I have no problem with her personally. However, I didn't know she was going to enter the entertainment industry as an actress.

Now I know, I don't want you to marry a celebrity. I don't like the entertainment industry; it's too chaotic.

"It would be fine if Liu Shishi remained unknown, but what if she becomes a big star? Don't you understand the saying 'fame brings trouble'? Look at actresses like Zhou Xun and Zhang Ziyi—aren't they all embroiled in scandals?"

Song Zhang coughed lightly and whispered, "On New Year's Day, one of your mother's female graduate students was a pretty good student, but unfortunately she's a Jay Chou fan."

This year, your mom was obsessed with her idols and their rumored relationships with Calvin Choy and Patty Hou, to the point that she neglected her studies. That's why your mom is now particularly averse to the entertainment industry.

Song Ci suddenly realized that there must be a reason for his mother's sudden change in attitude. There must have been a trigger, otherwise his mother would not have reacted so strongly.

Seeing her son seemingly deep in thought, Liu Xiaoxian added, "And another thing, let me remind you, can you prevent actors from filming kissing scenes?"

I simply can't stand my daughter-in-law kissing other men. If you can be that magnanimous, then I have nothing to say.

Upon hearing this, the whole family stared at Song Ci, waiting to see how he would respond. Even Grandma Song, who was the biggest supporter of Liu Shishi, hesitated and looked worried.

Although the Song family is not a prestigious family, they are a family of highly educated intellectuals. The family members all have a kind of intellectual pride and are very traditional at heart. They would absolutely not accept their daughter-in-law filming kissing scenes.

Song Ci understood the crux of the problem and said seriously, "Mom, your thinking is too narrow-minded. You have a subjective prejudice against Shishi's career. Why does Shishi have to film kissing scenes?"

Leaving aside classic blockbusters like "Journey to the West" and "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," even common Jin Yong martial arts dramas seem to require kissing scenes. A few days ago, Shi Shi's first starring film was released, and it didn't have any intimate scenes.

Acting, like teaching, is a profession. Actors can choose which roles to take. What rule says a female actor must film kissing scenes?

Seeing that her family members' expressions had softened, Song Ci pressed on, wanting to persuade her close relatives in one go: "I understand your concerns, but don't demonize the entertainment industry too much. I still maintain that it's some people who are dirty."

"Shishi is morally upright and has my protection, so her career will definitely be smooth sailing. Unlike some actresses who have to compromise themselves, she won't have any of the ugliness in the entertainment industry."

Song Ci's tone was calm, yet it carried a sense of vigor and dominance. He gently patted his mother's arm, trying to infect her with his optimism and confidence.

Liu Xiaoxian looked conflicted, clearly not having fully resolved her inner conflict; some viewpoints cannot be changed immediately with just a few words.

Song Zhang glanced at his wife, then at his son, caught in the middle, feeling conflicted. He sighed inwardly, thinking that his son was no longer under his mother's control as he grew up, and could only say, "Yuandan, you're still young. You should handle your own feelings well."

I watched Shishi grow up, and I want her to be happy. It would be such a shame if childhood sweethearts ended up breaking up.

Song Ci nodded, feeling her father's love: "Dad, Mom, Grandpa, Grandma, I've always hoped that our family could live in harmony. As you spend more time with Shishi, you'll find that she's a very good girl."

Shishi and I love each other. Don't you think it's a beautiful thing to go from childhood sweethearts to marriage? May we have no regrets, and grow old together in deep love! Having one person in this life is enough.

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, every household was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the neighborhood was filled with the festive joy and peace.

Song Ci specially wore the brown long trench coat that Liu Shishi had given him as a birthday gift, and he looked very energetic and handsome.

At this moment, I stood nervously and excitedly at Liu Shishi's door, carrying the gifts I had carefully selected the night before.

Last night, after much persuasion and with his father Song Zhang's support, he finally managed to convince his mother, Liu Xiaoxian, to agree to observe the situation and see how the young couple would get along in the future.

Although she had visited Liu Shishi's home many times before, today was clearly different from the past. Song Ci still felt a little uneasy, as well as a little bit of inexplicable anticipation.

Take a deep breath, compose yourself, and gently knock on your girlfriend's door.

The door opened quickly, and Liu Shishi stood in the doorway with a gentle smile. Because the heating was on in the house, she was only wearing a pink sweater and a pleated skirt, which made her look cute and playful.

Seeing the gift Song Ci was carrying, Ms. Liu was deeply moved; her boyfriend was always so considerate and thoughtful.

"Come in quickly, my dear." Miss Liu's voice was as gentle as a spring breeze. She bent down, picked up the slippers that had been prepared beforehand, and placed them beside Song Ci's feet.

Looking down at his childhood sweetheart, who was helping him change his shoes like a virtuous wife and loving mother, Song Ci felt a little embarrassed. He had always respected Miss Liu, and he never acted like a chauvinist when they were together.

Liu Shishi didn't care at all. She squatted down slightly, reached out and held her boyfriend's ankle, and gently helped him take off his leather shoes.

Noticing Song Ci's slight resistance, Liu Shishi gently instructed, "Don't move around too much—be careful not to fall. It'll be over soon."

Looking at her earnest expression, Song Ci felt a warm current welling up in his heart; there was no greater love than this.

Liu Shishi neatly placed the leather shoes aside, then picked up a pair of new slippers with both hands and carefully slipped them onto her boyfriend's feet.

"Okay, that feels much better, darling." Liu Shishi stood up, clapped her hands, and looked at her boyfriend with satisfaction as he put on his new slippers, which she had specially prepared.

(End of this chapter)