Entertainment Era: My Good Sister Is All Over the World

"The preference for sons over daughters is the same everywhere, which I think is very unfair. We are all human beings, why should there be a distinction between superior and inferior?"

—Sima Ziyan, *The Heroic Spirit of Muye*, 1979

……

"What's wrong?"

Wei Huili glared at him, displeased, and said, "You don't even call me 'sister' anymore!"

Huang Wenbin said with a smile, "Sister Wei, did you not eat your fill earlier and have come to ask me for an explanation?"

"Is there something you want to say to me?" Wei Huili looked at Huang Wenbin and asked softly.

It must be said, her eyes truly shone like stars.

Just by looking at it intently, Huang Wenbin could see the brilliance flowing within.

No wonder the ancients said that eyes are like autumn water; they were absolutely right.

Perhaps Wei Huili also sensed that her statement was somewhat ambiguous, so she added, "Otherwise, why would you have come looking for us?"

"There is indeed something going on." Huang Wenbin didn't intend to beat around the bush and spoke the truth: "However, after hearing Brother Rong's explanation, I realized that it would cause you trouble, so I'll leave it at that."

Wei Huili turned her head away, pedaling her bicycle slowly, and murmured, "I'm on temporary assignment here, and I'll be going back soon. I don't know when I'll be able to come back again."

"Then you..." Huang Wenbin didn't know what to say, so he could only say, "I will stay."

Wei Huili asked with a smile, "Do you have a way?"

"The best way, of course, is to make a movie." Huang Wenbin turned to Wei Huili and said seriously, "As long as the movie is a box office success, we can definitely get approval by applying to the Beijing Film Studio."

"Making a movie?" Wei Huili looked up at the star-studded night sky and shook her head. "I definitely can't do it. I'm so ugly, the movie would definitely not look good."

Huang Wenbin said in surprise, "Sister, you have to speak from the heart. If you're ugly, then everyone running on the street would be a toad."

"What you said is very interesting." Wei Huili giggled, then sighed, "I wish you were a little older."

Huang Wenbin looked puzzled: "Is there something wrong with me right now?"

"Neither is good," Wei Huili said with a smile, then added, "I know you came here wanting to ask us to film a movie, but now is definitely not the right time. I've decided to go back to Shandong first and hone my skills."

Huang Wenbin felt a pang of regret: "If you really don't stay, although I can't arrange a lead role for you, I can still recommend you to act in other plays at the Beijing Film Academy."

"I already told you, you're too young." Wei Huili replied irrelevantly, shaking her head, "Let's talk about it later."

As she spoke, she suddenly seemed to gain speed, pedaling the car at breakneck speed.

"Little brother, thank you anyway!" Wei Huili quickly shook off Huang Wenbin: "See you again sometime."

Huang Wenbin watched Wei Huili's departing figure, a strange feeling rising in his heart. He then slammed on the brakes and chased after her!

Tragically, he discovered that he couldn't even outride Wei Huili.

Wei Huili let out a silvery laugh and gradually faded into the distance.

Huang Wenbin rode back to the Beijing Film Studio somewhat dejectedly, when suddenly a figure brushed against the corner of the wall, and he accidentally bumped into the person.

"what!"

Hearing a scream, Huang Wenbin was immediately startled and jumped out of the car to check on the person's injuries: "Are you alright? I'm sorry, it was a bit dark, I didn't see you earlier!"

"It's nothing, it's nothing!" The man clutched his stomach and waved his hands repeatedly at Huang Wenbin, "I'll be fine after sitting for a while."

Under the cover of darkness, Huang Wenbin recognized the man's face and immediately exclaimed, "Li Xuejian?"

"Uh, you know me?" A look of surprise appeared on the man's face.

Huang Wenbin really wants to say that I grew up watching your movies and TV series.

Before he time-traveled, his school showed "Jiao Yulu" and "The Birth of a Warrior" during his primary school years. At home, he often watched "Water Margin" and "Young Marshal". When he was almost middle-aged, he watched "The Wandering Earth 2" and "Investiture of the Gods: Chaoge".

This is a people's performing artist who puts his life on the line.

However, Li Xuejian has not yet entered the entertainment industry. He is probably an actor in the Air Force Political Department Drama Troupe, and he is still an extra.

He made his mark in the theater world by playing 101 in "The September 13 Incident" the following year, which received widespread acclaim. It is said that because his performance was so lifelike, Mrs. Shaoqi skipped him when shaking hands after the play.

Huang He, the director of the Air Force Political Department Drama Troupe, also commented, "If this kid were to stand in Tiananmen Square after putting on makeup, he would definitely scare several people to death."

"Oh, I've seen your play, and I was very impressed with you."

Huang Wenbin pulled Li Xuejian up and asked in surprise, "What are you doing here? And why are you squatting in the corner?"

A hint of embarrassment appeared on Li Xuejian's face as he casually said, "I was just wandering around and ended up here."

At this point, Li Xuejian was actually at his wit's end.

When he was 11 years old, he was sent down to Guizhou with his father. After graduating from junior high school, he became a factory worker.

He joined the army at the age of 19 and became an engineer in the special forces under the Second Artillery Corps. He originally thought he could make a name for himself in the army.

As a result, the army assigned him to build bridges, roads, and dig tunnels in the mountains of the southwestern border region, where he dug for several years.

By chance, he performed a program at a military arts festival, which caused quite a stir. He was then temporarily transferred to the drama troupe of the Second Artillery Corps.

At that time, a play called "A Great Cause for the Ages" in Beijing was short of actors, so Li Xuejian was chosen. Without saying a word, he packed his bags and went to Beijing.

It turned out that the so-called lack of actors was actually just a lack of extras. But he didn't even get an extra role, and ended up doing odd jobs in the troupe every day, delivering water and carrying things.

Later, the play could not be performed, and the borrowed actors had to go back to their homes. Seeing that Li Xuejian was hardworking and diligent for several years without complaint, the leaders of the troupe decided to keep him.

Li Xuejian was overjoyed. He was thrilled that he had suddenly become half a Beijing resident.

The troupe also gave him a leave to visit his family and transferred his kinship to Yanjing.

As soon as he returned to his hometown, he boasted about it, earning the unanimous envy of his fellow villagers.

When he returned to Yanjing, things had changed. The troupe said they didn't have enough staff and sent him back to his hometown.

Li Xuejian's heart sank. He had boasted so much back in his hometown, how could he still have the face to go home?

To paraphrase Baiyun's words in the skit "Torchbearer," it's like saying, "This is too much! How am I supposed to explain to Old Li at the village entrance that I accepted all the gifts?"

The troupe probably felt it was a bit inconsiderate, so they asked Lu Wei, the director of "A Great Cause for All Ages," to transfer Li Xuejian to the Air Force Political Department Art Troupe.

The Air Force Political Department Art Troupe also felt aggrieved, as they didn't have enough staff on their side either.

Li Xuejian only wanted to stay in Yanjing; he didn't care whether he got a position or not, even if he stayed and continued doing odd jobs.

Moreover, since all the connections have been transferred to Yanjing, if they don't give me a job, I'll have to become a vagrant on the streets.

Li Xuejian stayed, continuing to play minor roles and do odd jobs, silently waiting for his chance.

He was accompanied by Wang Xueqi, Pu Cunxi, and others at the time.

This year, another opportunity arose.

When the play "Mountains and Rivers" was to be made into a movie, the assistant director, Wang Yiwan, came to the Air Force Political Department Art Troupe to select actors. She immediately took a liking to Li Xuejian, feeling that his temperament was very suitable for the role in the film.

Li Xuejian was overjoyed, feeling that he was finally about to make a name for himself.

As a result, everyone in the dormitory except him was selected.

The director felt that Li Xuejian looked too old on camera, so he was eliminated immediately.

Li Xuejian was furious. "I'm only 25 years old! How can I be old!"

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and the less he understood.

He was holding back a lot of anger, but he couldn't find anyone to vent it on. He couldn't even eat, so he could only go out for a stroll.

This stroll led me to the Beijing Film Studio, where I saw a casting call for actors on the wall—it was for "Let the Bullets Fly".

Li Xuejian thought to himself, "If you all don't want me, does that mean I can't act in other movies?"

But upon closer reflection, he was still affiliated with the Kongban Performing Arts Troupe. If he accepted a film role without authorization, would he be expelled?

Then he thought again, the performing arts troupe hadn't even given him a permanent position yet, and he was just being made to do odd jobs and play minor roles. What difference would it make if he got fired?

This went on and on, until the audition was over, but Li Xuejian's inner struggle was still not over.

In the end, he could only squat in the corner, constantly complaining that he was just too unlucky!

Then he was knocked down by Huang Wenbin.

"I'm so unlucky!" Li Xuejian slapped himself, then stood up straight, waved his hand and said, "I'm fine, really fine. You go ahead with your work, I'm leaving."

"Wait a minute," Huang Wenbin called out to him, pointing to the casting call for "Let the Bullets Fly" on the wall, and said, "There's a role in this movie that would be perfect for you. Don't you really want to give it a try?"

Li Xuejian chuckled self-deprecatingly: "Someone like me, how could I possibly make movies? People all think I'm too old!"

Huang Wenbin said, "It's good to be a bit older. The role requires you to be in your thirties, and you look perfect for the role."

Li Xuejian almost cried, thinking to herself, "I'm only 25!"

But he couldn't bring himself to say it; instead, he could only ask, "Can I really try?"

"I can't guarantee that. You can come and try it tomorrow morning."

After being enlightened by Yu Rongguang, Huang Wenbin finally realized that he couldn't make promises to anyone. "You won't lose anything by giving it a try, right?"

"Okay, I'll come tomorrow morning!" Li Xuejian gritted his teeth and made up his mind!

The pent-up frustration in Huang Wenbin's heart dissipated.

Today he tried to recruit Yu Rongguang and Wei Huili to act in a play, but he was rebuffed.

Unexpectedly, I found a future SSR card in the corner, and this turned out to be a profit.