Huayu: A master director who debuted as a singer

Chapter 83 Gao Yuanyuan at the CCTV Entrance

Backstage at CCTV.

Zheng Hui came down from the stage, put on his coat, and his phone rang in his coat pocket. He took his phone out of his pocket and glanced at it.

There's a new text message from Fan Binbin.

"Happy New Year, Hui-ge!"

Zheng Hui looked at the text message and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

He replied with a few words: "Happy New Year. You can come and see me when you return to Beijing; I'll be there recently."

After sending the text message, he put his phone back in his pocket and looked up to see Richie Jen standing at the entrance of the passageway waiting for him.

"Let's go, Teacher Zhao is still waiting over there." Richie Jen waved.

"Here I am." Zheng Hui walked over quickly.

The three met up. Zhao Benshan had changed out of his performance outfit and was wearing a black leather jacket and a baseball cap, looking quite trendy.

"Let's go, I know a Northeastern Chinese restaurant up ahead, it's really authentic."

Zhao Benshan led the way out, waving his hand as he went, "It's New Year's Eve, it's not right to just treat you to dumplings, we need to prepare some real dishes."

"Teacher Zhao, who wrote the script for your skit? It was hilarious!" Richie Jen said as he walked, turning up his collar to block the wind.

"He Qingkui, that's a great talent." Zhao Benshan took out cigarettes from his pocket and offered them to them: "Want one?"

Both of them waved their hands.

"It's good not to smoke; your voice is precious."

As they were talking, Zheng Hui suddenly stopped.

Under the streetlights outside the CCTV building, a girl was stamping her feet and breathing on them to warm them. Her scarf covered most of her face, leaving only her large eyes visible as she stared in their direction. Her hair was a little messy from the wind, and her nose was red from the cold.

Zheng Hui was taken aback for a moment, then tentatively called out, "Gao Yuanyuan?"

The girl shuddered, pulled her scarf down, revealing a face that was pale with cold.

"Zheng—Zheng Hui." Her voice trembled slightly, whether from the cold or nervousness, it was hard to tell.

Zhao Benshan and Richie Jen also stopped.

"Who is this? A friend?" Zhao Benshan asked.

"Ah, a friend I met while filming GG."

Zheng Hui walked over and looked at her face, which was red from the cold: "What are you doing here? How did you get here?"

Gao Yuanyuan lowered her head, not daring to look at him: "I just—saw it on TV and wanted to come see—I took a bus from Fengtai."

Zheng Hui still found it unbelievable: "From Fengtai? During the Spring Festival, you traveled that far by yourself? Are you crazy?"

Gao Yuanyuan didn't reply; she just looked at Zheng Hui happily.

Seeing her like this, Zheng Hui could only ask helplessly, "Have you eaten?"

Gao Yuanyuan shook her head, then nodded: "My family made dumplings, but I didn't eat many."

Zhao Benshan chuckled, tossed his cigarette butt to the ground, and stomped it out. "Alright, since we've run into each other, it's fate. Enough said, girl, come on, let's go eat some meat! It's so cold, we need to nourish ourselves."

Gao Yuanyuan turned her head and looked at the face that was the most famous in all of China, and she was completely stunned.

"Go."

Although Zheng Hui's tone was still somewhat reproachful, his eyes softened: "Since you're already here, I can't let you go back hungry. I'll have a car take you home after you finish eating."

Gao Yuanyuan looked at Zheng Hui, and finally nodded, biting her lip.

Four people, three big stars and a little girl, walked on the streets of Beijing on New Year's Eve in 1999.

Several of their assistants and bodyguards followed at a distance behind them.

"Let me tell you about Xianqi. That Northeastern restaurant up ahead is run by genuine Northeasterners. My driver found it while waiting for me to come to rehearsal. He said that the 'One Pot, One Plate' dish is absolutely amazing. You should try it; you definitely can't get this in Taiwan," Zhao Benshan introduced as he walked ahead.

Zheng Hui slowed down and walked behind Gao Yuanyuan, who followed him like a little penguin, walking along with a silly grin.

The group entered the Northeastern Chinese restaurant that Zhao Benshan had mentioned.

It's Lunar New Year's Eve, and the shop's lights are still on. The owner was drinking and watching a rerun of the Spring Festival Gala with some employees when he looked up and saw Zhao Benshan walk in: "Oh my god! Teacher Benshan?!"

The boss stood up abruptly from his chair, his face flushed, whether from drinking or excitement, it was hard to tell.

Zhao Benshan chuckled and said, "Keep it down, keep it down. Boss, Happy New Year! Is there any more food? Bring on your best dishes!"

"Yes! Absolutely! As long as you want to eat, we'll have it even if it's freshly slaughtered pig!" The boss was so excited he was incoherent, and he quickly ushered the group into the innermost private room.

The room was scorching hot from the heating. After sitting down, Zhao Benshan didn't even look at the menu, immediately rattling off the orders: "Boss, first, a sweet and sour pork, the old-fashioned way, the sauce has to cling to it; then, chicken stew with mushrooms, hazel mushrooms, and potato starch noodles; a whole pot of pork offal stew, the blood sausage has to be tender; don't forget the three treasures of the earth (potatoes, green peppers, and eggplant), and finally, a plate of aspic to go with the drinks. For the main course, pickled cabbage and pork dumplings, by weight!"

Richie Jen was stunned: "Teacher Zhao, there are only four of us, isn't this too much? What unit of measurement is 'basin'?"

"What's so special about it? This is just how we Northeasterners treat our guests!"

Zhao Benshan took off his hat and laughed heartily, "When you're here, you have to eat as much as you want! Even if there's leftovers, you can't let the plate be empty!"

Soon, the dishes were served in a continuous stream.

The sweet and sour pork was golden in color, and its aroma filled the nostrils; the stewed pork with pickled mustard greens was served in a large stainless steel basin, with pickled cabbage, pork belly, and blood sausage bubbling in the thick broth, steaming hot; the stewed chicken with mushrooms was fragrant and glistening with oil.

Gao Yuanyuan stared wide-eyed; she had never seen such a large quantity of food in her life.

"Come on, let's have some baijiu!" Zhao Benshan poured himself, Richie Jen, and Zheng Hui a full glass of baijiu, and poured Gao Yuanyuan a cup of hot Lulu.

"The first toast is to this New Year's Eve, and to fate!" Zhao Benshan raised his glass.

The four cups clinked together, making a crisp sound.

Zheng Hui downed the glass of wine in one gulp, the spicy sensation burning down his throat, instantly warming his entire body.

"Eat some meat! Xianqi, try this sweet and sour pork, be careful it's hot!" Zhao Benshan called out.

Richie Jen picked up a piece and took a bite. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a perfect balance of sweet and sour, his eyes lit up instantly: "Delicious! This flavor is truly unique!"

"Eat more if you like it!" Zhao Benshan smiled and turned to Zheng Hui. "Xiao Hui, serve the girl some food. What are you standing there for?"

""

Zheng Hui picked up the serving chopsticks, placed a piece of white meat on Gao Yuanyuan's plate, and then served her a bowl of pork stew soup: "Drink something hot to warm yourself up, this isn't greasy."

Gao Yuanyuan held the bowl with both hands, sipping the wine slowly, the steam making her face flush red. She would steal glances at Zheng Hui every now and then, her eyes filled with undisguised joy.

Outside the window, sporadic firecrackers sounded, signaling that the new year had truly arrived.

Inside, people were clinking glasses and exchanging toasts, the air thick with the aroma of steam.

Zhao Benshan recounted amusing anecdotes from his performances in rural Northeast China, making Richie Jen laugh heartily; Zheng Hui occasionally chimed in with just the right words; Gao Yuanyuan listened quietly, a smile always playing on her lips.

After a hearty meal, it was already past 1 a.m. More than half the dishes were still left on the table, just as Zhao Benshan said – that's the kind of prestige Northeasterners have.

After leaving the restaurant, Zheng Hui hailed a taxi, which stopped on the side of the road.

Gao Yuanyuan stood by the car door, looking at Zheng Hui, somewhat reluctant to get in.

"Let's go back, it's too late, your family must be worried," Zheng Hui said.

"Um—" Gao Yuanyuan clutched the hem of her clothes, "Can I still come to see you in the future?"

Zheng Hui looked into her clear eyes and paused for a moment.

"When I have time, yes."

Gao Yuanyuan's eyes lit up instantly, as if two lamps had been lit.

When are you free?

"Wait until I finish my exams," Zheng Hui said. "I'm taking the Beijing Film Academy entrance exam in a few days."

17

"You want to apply to Beijing Film Academy?" Gao Yuanyuan asked in surprise.

"Yeah, I want to learn something."

"That's wonderful!" Gao Yuanyuan almost jumped for joy. "So, will you be staying in Beijing from now on?"

"Yes, okay, get in the car." Zheng Hui opened the car door for her.

Gao Yuanyuan got into the car, rolled down the window, and waved to Zheng Hui: "Zheng Hui, Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year."

The taxi drove away, its taillights disappearing into the night.

Zheng Hui turned around and saw Zhao Benshan and Richie Jen standing under the streetlights, looking at him and laughing.

"Hey bro, this girl's eyes are practically glued to you," Richie Jen joked.

Zheng Hui shook his head: "She's just a little sister."

Zhao Benshan joked, "Come on. I've been there, and that look in his eyes... he looks like he wants to spend his life with you. You've got a lot of ladies' love, kid."

Zheng Hui didn't respond, but changed the subject: "Teacher Zhao, what are your plans for the future?"

"I'm flying back to Shenyang early tomorrow morning. My wife and kids are waiting for me at home." Zhao Benshan tightened his leather jacket. "What about you two?"

"I'm also going back to Taiwan; I have commitments there," Richie Jen said.

"I have to stay in Beijing to prepare for the art college entrance exam," Zheng Hui said.

"Alright, then farewell." Zhao Benshan extended his hand: "If you ever go to Northeast China, mention my name, it'll do you good."

"must."

The three parted ways at the intersection.

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