Entertainment Era: Starting with Teaching Sister Meng to Sing

Wang Xiaozhou hung up the phone with a somber expression.

He turned to look at Meng Ziyi, but kept his thoughts to himself and didn't say a word.

There was no way to continue playing. After explaining the situation to the two women, Wang Xiaozhou drove back to the hotel and then chatted with Wenye for a while.

"You'll have to keep an eye on things these days. I really can't leave home because of some things. Anyway, we're a slow-paced variety show, so you can just take them to Yunzhen to film some eating and drinking scenes."

"I know the number of viewers in the live stream will definitely drop when I leave. I'll tell the guests not to worry, and I'll reassure them that I'll still include them in the next short film."

Wenye nodded in agreement, then asked, "Should I send a car to take you to the airport?"

Wang Xiaozhou shook his head: "I'll just take a taxi back."

After thinking for a while, he still felt it wasn't appropriate not to tell Huang Mao and the others about this, and then asked:

"If I take Huang Mao and the others back with me, will this place still be able to hold on?"

Wenye frowned and said, "That leaves only a few female guests, which might not be enough."

Wang Xiaozhou scratched his head helplessly: "Okay, call Miss Song now and ask her to call as many artists as possible from the vicinity of Yunzhen to come and save the day. I really have to go. Huang Mao and the others can't possibly not come back with me, so please bear with them here."

After saying that, Wang Xiaozhou directly called Huang Mao and the others. Because of the game yesterday, these guys were still in the hotel in the village reshooting. After receiving Wang Xiaozhou's call, they took a taxi to the hotel to meet up without saying a word.

The four brothers set off from the hotel and arrived at the airport before noon.

They boarded smoothly. There were only four of them in first class. Wang Xiaozhou was resting with his eyes closed, while Huang Mao carefully chose his words:

"Then how did my older brother die?"

Wang Xiaozhou didn't open his eyes and replied directly, "My dad said he committed suicide by drowning."

Huang Mao gritted his teeth and said, "He must be in so much pain that he can't stand it anymore. Big Brother is actually quite tough. He would never have come to this point if he hadn't really been unable to bear it."

After hesitating for a long time, the third brother finally asked, "Which river did you jump into?"

Wang Xiaozhou replied, "The one we went to see before the Lunar New Year."

Both times Wang Xiaozhou visited the old man's house, his three brothers were with him, and they could hear everything he said.

When Wang Xiaozhou asked Huang Mao about compensation for work-related death, Huang Mao didn't suspect anything, but Lao San had been keeping an eye on it for a long time and finally had the chance to ask today.

"Brother, will this old man really be able to get workers' compensation for doing this?"

Wang Xiaozhou replied with his eyes closed, "It doesn't matter. If the old man can get what he wants, I can get what I want too."

The blond-haired guy blinked: "What are you guys talking about? I don't quite understand."

A ruthless glint flashed in the third brother's eyes, but he quickly concealed it; it was best not to let Huang Mao know about this.

"It's nothing, I was just asking if my older brother would help with the old man's funeral arrangements."

Before Wang Xiaozhou could speak again, Huang Mao quickly said, "Of course we should! Let's all help. The old man's family only has the elderly, the weak, and the sick and disabled. If we don't help, how can we manage the funeral?"

No one answered on the plane; everyone was silently waiting to land.

They arrived in Songbei before dark, and Wang Jianguo picked them up as usual. Wang Xiaozhou sat in the passenger seat and received a text message on his phone, which was secretly sent by Lao San.

"Brother, should I stake out Wei Bin's house these days? Letting any one of these three go will cause trouble. If it really comes down to it, I'll take matters into my own hands."

Among the brothers, the third brother is actually the most ruthless at heart. Having gotten to where he is with Wang Xiaozhou, he even harbors the idea of ​​sacrificing himself to help his eldest brother eliminate future troubles.

Wang Xiaozhou glanced back at his third brother, shook his head, and then replied via text message: "Don't do anything. Wait a week. Everything will be clear after a week."

Seeing that his son finally put the phone in his pocket, Wang Jianguo said:

"That's life. Things are always unpredictable. Don't overthink it. It's all part of one's destiny."

Wang Xiaozhou looked at his father and forced a smile, saying:

"The old man had terminal cancer and there was no cure. The river he chose can be considered a fulfillment of his wish."

Wang Jianguo wasn't involved in his son's affairs and didn't know what he was talking about, but seeing that his son was just sad and could actually let go of things, he felt much more at ease.

"That poor little girl, after she got home your mother wouldn't let her leave, she gave her a nice bath and made her a lot of delicious food, and now she's sleeping in your room."

Here's what I'm thinking: Since our family isn't under much financial pressure right now, and your friend's family is really struggling, why don't we sponsor this girl from elementary school to university? We'll do our best to ensure she lives like an average family.

Wang Xiaozhou forced a smile and joked with his father, "The business has really grown big now. My father has the mindset of an entrepreneur. Why don't you just suggest that we adopt the little girl?"

Wang Jianguo frowned: "Hey, what are you saying? The person still has a mother, but their financial situation is not good. How can you talk about adoption like this?"

Besides, even if the girl's family really has no one left, we can only help her with her school fees. I've told you the saying "a debt of gratitude is appreciated, but a debt of resentment is resented" too many times; please take it to heart.

Having an extra eight or nine-year-old child in the family can indeed easily lead to enmity. There's no need to go into the details, but Wang Xiaozhou greatly admires the wisdom his father has accumulated over forty years.

Then there was a moment of silence. The car drove all the way to Wang Xiaozhou's building, and the group went upstairs together. Xiao Erni opened the door.

"Oh dear, why is it Erni at home? Where's your grandma?"

The third brother is overflowing with affection whenever he sees Erni. Back when they were at the eldest uncle's house, he was one of only two people Erni was willing to play with, and their bond remains strong.

Erni's gaze swept past the crowd and landed on Wang Xiaozhou, who was standing at the back. Her lips trembled, and she looked aggrieved.

Yes, Wang Xiaozhou was the first playmate she wanted to find. Lao San was just a second choice. That's why Wang Xiaozhou was the closest to Erni.

"Grandma went to the market to buy groceries for me. She told me to stay home by myself and that she would cook me something delicious when she got back tonight."

Do your family members know you're here?

Wang Xiaozhou asked in a deep voice.

Erni replied timidly, "I know. Grandma said if your family is willing to let me stay for a few days, then don't rush back. There are too many people at home these days, so it's inconvenient."

It seems the old man had already given instructions before he passed away, that the family must withstand the pressure in order to receive the funeral expenses.

His family had been in such dire straits before that no one had helped them, and Wang Xiaozhou figured no one would have a change of heart now, so the two elderly people had no choice but to entrust Erni to his young son's care.

It's kind of ridiculous when you think about it, what a despicable world!

Some people are born to experience the beauty of life, while others are born to endure tribulations. Xiao Erni clearly belongs to the latter.

"Stay here for the day. We'll go home with you tomorrow. There won't be many people, and it won't be inconvenient."

Wang Xiaozhou spoke gently, as he was afraid of scaring the unlucky child.

But Xiao Erni still sniffed when she heard this, and asked in a low voice:

"Brother, do you not want me to stay at your house? Grandma gave me a hundred yuan before she left. I can rent a bed in a small hotel nearby for a dozen yuan."

Wang Xiaozhou could tell that Xiao Erni genuinely meant it and didn't want to cause him any trouble, rather than pretending to be pitiful.

For a moment I didn't know what to say, so I just took a deep breath:

"It's not that I don't want you to stay at my house, I'm just worried that you won't be used to living here. If you want to stay, then stay as long as you want. Leave everything at home to me, I'll take care of it for you."

The so-called family matter naturally refers to funerals.

Upon hearing that her brother wasn't trying to send her away, Xiao Erni immediately smiled happily. She then skipped and hopped to get slippers for everyone. After everyone had come inside and sat down, she took her schoolbag and went to a corner of the room to do her homework.

In a child's simple world, doing their homework well is a way to make adults happy.

A group of people sat in the living room and sighed in unison. The scene before them truly made them feel powerless. Such a pitiful little child might never have a home again.

"Brother Xiaozhou, we have to do something, right?"

The most sentimental blond-haired man gritted his teeth and said.

Even Liu Weiguang, who never liked to meddle in other people's business, frowned: "We can't just let the old man die in vain, can we? Should we help him get that workers' compensation?"

Wang Xiaozhou fiddled with the ornaments on the table: "The old man had terminal cancer, and he died a worthy death. There's nothing we need to do. If we have the heart for it, we should help him arrange his funeral first."

"But elder brother!..."

Huang Mao hesitated for a moment, then swallowed the rest of his words.

Everyone knows the old man has terminal cancer, but if Wei Bin hadn't occupied his family's land for so long, he would have had a chance to prolong his life, and would be in much better shape than he is now.

The real culprits who tore this family apart have always been the Wei family!

Good and evil will eventually be rewarded.

Wang Xiaozhou glanced at his father, who was busy in the kitchen, and could not say anything more, so he could only gesture with his eyes.

The group immediately understood and said nothing more.

A short while later, Ma Xiaoping returned from buying groceries. She had brought beef, fish, and ribs, but her eyes were red, indicating that she had just been crying.

Upon entering the house and seeing her son returning from his trip, Ma Xiaoping didn't say much and went to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients.

Wang Xiaozhou secretly followed her and whispered, "What's wrong, Mom? Is Erni being disobedient?"

Ma Xiaoping held back for a moment, but couldn't hold it in any longer and burst into tears.

"Xiao Erni is such a pitiful child. When I bathed her, she was so thin that she was just skin and bones. I don't know what her parents thought. Her father is sick, but she still has her mother. How could they raise a child like this?"

Of the family members, Ma Xiaoping has the sharpest tongue but the kindest heart; she feels sorry for other people's children so much that she cries.

Wang Xiaozhou offered a few words of comfort, but seeing that his mother was even considering adopting Xiao Erni, he quickly stopped talking.

Just like Dad said, they still have a mother, so it has nothing to do with adoption. Giving them some money occasionally to help improve their lives is already very kind of them.

After having dinner with his family, Wang Xiaozhou let Erni stay in the guest room and finally set off for Erni's house, accompanied by Huang Mao and his group.

When we arrived at Erni's house by car, the yard was empty. The two elderly people were sitting in front of the old man's portrait, their eyes lifeless.

Because we changed the old lady's job after the New Year, her mental problems had improved a lot, but now she has returned to her previous numb state, just sitting alone in the room, not speaking or moving.

My condolences.

Wang Xiaozhou entered the house, lit incense for the old man, and then spoke to the elderly couple.

The elderly folks have lost their previous enthusiasm; perhaps this is the greatest sorrow, the despair of a broken heart. They are now indifferent to everything in the world.

While Huang Mao and the others were offering incense, Wang Xiaozhou squatted down in front of the elderly couple and whispered:

"The old man is gone, but Erni is still here, and the child is still here."

"Children" is perhaps the word that can best awaken the emotions of the elderly. Upon hearing this, the two elders' eyes gradually lit up with light, and Wang Xiaozhou was finally relieved. The departed are gone, and the living must get back to work. Only when everyone returns to normal can things proceed smoothly.

"Can't anyone from your family come over? Don't you have any close relatives or anything like that?"

Wang Xiaozhou asked, "The most urgent thing now is to determine the location of the old man's death, complete all the formalities, and then let him be laid to rest."

"Our family is so poor, we don't have any relatives left. I never expected you, Wang, to be willing to come."

Tears welled up in the old man's eyes, and he felt an indescribable sorrow in his heart.

Wang Xiaozhou nodded: "Okay, you can go ahead and handle the formalities. As long as the person can be buried, I'll take care of the funeral arrangements and make sure the old man has a proper send-off."

The old man gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, I'll take care of it. I'll handle all the paperwork!"

Wang Xiaozhou nodded: "Have Huang Mao and Lao San accompany you tomorrow."

Basic evidence must be collected, including photos of the scene, death certificate, original filing documents, etc., and these should be kept in your possession so that no matter how tortuous the process may be, you will have a trump card to turn the tables.

After dealing with the elderly couple, Wang Xiaozhou got up and went inside, finding the elderly woman with a blank expression.

"Auntie, I don't know what you're thinking. I just want to remind you that you have a job in the county town now, and you don't have to worry about basic food, clothing, and daily necessities. You can continue to live your life."

"Little Erni only has you now. Although the elderly folks love her just as much, there's a generation gap between them, and to put it bluntly, they're getting old and don't know how many more days they can stay with her. She can only rely on you."

The only way to awaken a woman whose heart has turned to ashes is through her child.

Sure enough, after hearing these words, the old lady regained some clarity in her expression, but her words still lacked something.

"Yes, I still have Erni. I have to support her schooling and college. I have to go to work now."

After saying that, the old woman turned around and left, seemingly heading to work in the county.

Wang Xiaozhou didn't stop her, letting her indulge her emotions.

I got up and went outside to help tidy up the yard. The old man was in poor health, and the elderly couple couldn't tidy it up. The yard was piled up with clutter beyond recognition, and there wouldn't be enough room for anyone to stand when they came tomorrow.

Huang Mao and the others joined in, and the four young men worked together to tidy up the yard before dark.

After the physical labor was finished, Huang Mao and Liu Weiguang went to buy groceries, while Wang Xiaozhou and Lao San chatted with the elderly couple.

Now is the time when they need companionship the most. Why do we have funerals when people pass away? Besides saying goodbye to the deceased, it's also to let others spend more time with the deceased's family.

There's a saying that goes, "At a funeral, when everyone is busy and friends and relatives from all over the country are saying goodbye, you don't really feel like a family member is leaving. It's only when all the guests have left that the emptiness that comes over you is the most devastating."

No one attended the funeral of the elderly couple, and Wang Xiaozhou didn't want them to be immersed in grief, so he took on the role of a guest.

When Huang Mao returned from grocery shopping, Wang Xiaozhou invited them inside to chat with the elderly couple while he busied himself in the kitchen. He couldn't quite describe his feelings; they were as complicated as if a piece of oil-soaked cotton was stuck in his throat, preventing him from saying anything.

After having dinner with the two elderly people, Wang Xiaozhou finally drove everyone back home.

In the car, the blond-haired man hesitated a bit:

"Hey... any of you guys not going home today? Can we book a room for the night? Just so you know, I'm not being naive, it's just that this old guy thing happened right next to me, and I'm... a little scared? Anyway, I just don't want to go home and sleep by myself right now."

Liu Weiguang quickly raised his hand: "Oh my god, I feel the same way. I feel terrible and don't want to be alone. It would be nice to go to an internet cafe and have some fun."

"I'm going too. I've been feeling so frustrated all day, I can't sleep when I get home."

The blond-haired man quickly echoed his sentiment.

Wang Xiaozhou didn't really want to go home, but he had a lot to do tomorrow. He was worried he wouldn't have the energy if he went to the internet cafe today, so he let Huang Mao and the others go instead, giving them a heads-up.

"Don't stay up too late. You have important things to do tomorrow. It's almost midnight, so take a nap in your chair."

Seeing that everyone nodded in agreement, Wang Xiaozhou drove them to the 520 Internet Cafe, while he went to Song Shihui's house.

He didn't want to go back to his own home, didn't want to see Erni looking so pitiful, and didn't want his parents to think he was getting too involved in other people's affairs and worry them.

When Song Shihui opened the door, she was wearing a purple, form-fitting bathrobe with the hem just above her knees. It looked very pretty and alluring, and she probably changed into it after seeing that the person who came in was Wang Xiaozhou.

But Wang Xiaozhou didn't have a single extra thought right now; as soon as he entered the house, he buried himself in the sofa.

"tired."

Song Shihui went to the kitchen, fetched a glass of warm water, and pushed it onto the coffee table for Wang Xiaozhou: "What's wrong? Has the great talent encountered something troubling you?"

Wang Xiaozhou nodded: "Yeah, I feel disgusted with myself right now. I stood by and watched someone die, and I even used others to fulfill my own evil intentions."

Song Shihui: "Could you elaborate?"

Perhaps because of his teacher status, Wang Xiaozhou trusted Song Shihui very much. Whenever he encountered problems, he liked to talk to her and ask her for guidance. Even though he had done something dishonest this time, Wang Xiaozhou still told her the whole story.

After Wang Xiaozhou finished speaking, Song Shihui remained silent for a moment before slowly saying:

"First of all, you have no obligation to help others. There are countless sick people in the world; could you possibly save every single one of them?"

"Secondly, that old man got what he asked for. You should help him with the process. The compensation for his work injury is enough for his wife and children to live a life without financial pressure for a while. It's even a good deed."

"In the end, there's not much to say. Everyone has their own destiny. Let go of the urge to help others and respect their fate."