Entertainment Era: Starting with Teaching Sister Meng to Sing

The recording cycle for The Voice of China is very long.

From the initial director auditions to the preliminary blind auditions by the four mentors on stage, and finally to the final cut for the audience, every step of the process involves rigorous selection.

For example, if the director selects a total of one thousand people to participate in the blind auditions, less than one hundred people will be able to get the judges to turn around.

The director then has to select the best performers, those with the most unique voices, and those with the strongest storylines from these 100 people, and then cut them into the final cut. Of these, no more than 50 people will meet the requirements.

These seemingly short five blind audition sessions actually involve an astonishing amount of work. For the next week, the mentors will be busy with the blind audition process and will have no time to guide the students.

Once they finish their work, the editors can start working, selecting the eight best trainees from those who received mentors' approval to be included in the first episode, using them to generate initial buzz for the show.

So even though Meng Ziyi's performance is definitely good enough to be included in the first episode, it will still take at least half a month before we see her on TV.

This made Meng Ziyi anxious, and she kept asking Wang Xiaozhou on the train home when she would be able to start earning money, as she was struggling to afford Sister Juan's medical expenses.

Annoyed to no end, Wang Xiaozhou could only try to appease Meng Ziyi as they exited the train station:

"There are no prizes for The Voice. Wait until the first episode airs, and an entertainment company will definitely sign you. If you're in a hurry, you can earn a signing fee at that time."

"Oh, so where are you going?"

"I'm going home to check in. I haven't been home for two weeks. If my parents find out I'm not at school, they'll beat me to a pulp."

"oh......"

After seeing Wang Xiaozhou off in a minibus, Meng Ziyi walked home with her head down. Having spent so many days and nights with Wang Xiaozhou, the sudden separation made her feel as if she had returned to a life where no one cared about her.

"bite."

Just as she was about to leave her house, her phone suddenly beeped. Meng Ziyi took it out, glanced at it, and immediately beamed with joy.

The text message with this effect was naturally sent by Wang Xiaozhou.

Let's go for a walk at the train station after school on Monday, before you get too famous. You walk on the left side of the tracks, I'll walk on the right. When you look at the sky, I'll look at you; when you look at me, I'll brag...

......

As soon as Wang Xiaozhou stepped into his home, he sensed that the atmosphere at home was somewhat unpleasant.

Mom was sharpening her knife in the kitchen, while Dad sat on the kang (heated brick bed) inside, smoking silently.

Not daring to speak to his mother, Wang Xiaozhou quickly pulled out a cigarette from the pack and lit it for his father, just like a spoiled brat.

Ma Xiaoping walked over from the kitchen, leaned against the door frame, and said sarcastically, "Oh, my son is so good to me. I wish his old man would beat me to death and find me a handsome young man in the entertainment industry."

Wang Jianguo had intended to pull off a cool, high-flying move to impress his son, but halfway through, he was choked by a single sentence from Ma Xiaoping, which brought tears to his eyes.

It’s over.

The truth must have come out.

It must have been Uncle San who came to complain at home. This Sister Meng really only cares about her own honesty and doesn't care about other people's lives at all.

"Mom, what are you saying!"

Adhering to a non-stick pan mentality, Wang Xiaozhou first gave his mother a series of punches.

"Was it when my third uncle came to our house that he said I wasn't studying properly and was just dreaming about getting into the entertainment industry?"

Ma Xiaoping knew Wang Xiaozhou's character all too well. She looked at her son with the same eyes she would give trash, casually popped a sunflower seed into her mouth, cracked it open, pressed the shell against her lips with her tongue, and blew it onto Wang Xiaozhou's face with a "pfft".

"Start with your sophistry."

Wang Xiaozhou said with a look of grief and indignation: "What am I trying to argue about? It was Uncle San who misunderstood. You know Meng Ziyi, right? She's the girl we met together in the hospital room that day."

I helped her write songs and get into the entertainment industry; I didn't show my face!

She lost both her parents when she was young and lived with my aunt. Now my aunt is sick and can't take it anymore. What a pitiful girl. What's wrong with me helping her?

Ma Xiaoping tossed the remaining sunflower seeds back into the bag, rubbed her hands together, and said to Wang Jianguo:

"Oh no, now I'll have to bring you a daughter-in-law too."

She glared at Wang Xiaozhou and said, "No wonder I couldn't stand her in the hospital room that day. She looks so seductive, with a figure like a vixen. Turns out she's hooked up with you. A mother always has a feeling!"

What is the highest compliment a rural woman can give to a beautiful woman?

What kind of talk is that!

Wang Xiaozhou turned his head away and started to get angry with his mother, angry that her guess was too accurate!

"I'm just thinking about our little family. My dad works so hard farming, and you have to go out to pick beans before dawn every day. Is it wrong for me to want to earn some money to help you share the burden?"

Your most important task right now is to study!

Wang Jianguo interrupted Wang Xiaozhou's fallacious reasoning, but his tone was actually gentle.

Ma Xiaoping's eyes lit up: "Can it make money?"

"Yes, the first wave has already been completed."

"How much can I earn?"

"It's uncertain. If all goes well, the money for Auntie's medical treatment will definitely be available, and our family will also receive 100,000 to 200,000 yuan."

With a "smack," Ma Xiaoping struck Wang Xiaozhou on the back of the neck. Her face lit up with joy: "Don't brag. Do you know how much 100,000 yuan is? What do you want to eat tonight? I'll make it for you."

"Hmph." Wang Xiaozhou thought to himself with a smug grin, thinking, "Little dad and mom, you think you can mess with me!"

She puts emotional pressure on her kind and generous father and lures her mother, who is eager to live a good life, and even with a terrible teammate like Sister Meng causing trouble, she can still live a carefree life!

"Sweet and sour pork, stir-fried eggplant, green peppers, and potatoes, and stewed pork ribs with green beans!"

Wang Xiaozhou ordered the food with a clear conscience. Having lived a middle-aged life in his previous life, he now understands that asking his mother for things is also a way to put her mind at ease.

Brackets, except for family vampires.

Mei Mei enjoyed a family meal and experienced the highest level of treatment for students returning home before sunset. As soon as she got into bed, Ma Xiaoping's interrogation began.

"Is there anything going on between you and that Meng Ziyi?"

"fine."

"When do you plan to come up with something?"

"Forehead......"

Wang Xiaozhou rolled over, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

"Is she really going to advance in that singing competition?" Ma Xiaoping pressed on.

Wang Xiaozhou nodded: "Yes, they've already advanced, but the show hasn't aired yet."

"Then you need to think this over even more carefully. The entertainment industry is already chaotic, and a family like ours can't support someone like that."

"A real man doesn't care about his origin!"

"You're nothing but a coward. I know you too well. You're a nobody with a tiny, narrow mind."

Wang Xiaozhou turned over again and buried her head in the blanket, so her son and mother couldn't talk anymore.

After watching the weather forecast, Wang Jianguo turned off the TV, pulled the light switch, and the room went dark.

After an unknown amount of time, just as Wang Xiaozhou's forced sleep method was about to take effect, Wang Jianguo's deep voice rang out.

"Dad has leased another ten acres of land this year. Don't worry about the money. If you need more living expenses, ask your mom. Focus on your studies for the last six months."

The heated kang (traditional Chinese bed) was burning too brightly today, and my nose started to ache from sleeping too much.