Entertainment Era: Starting with Teaching Sister Meng to Sing

After Teacher Wang Feng's visit, Wang Xiaozhou had a very tough time.

The script for a period drama short film was completed in ten days. It doesn't sound like the filming speed of a short film; it sounds more like the filming speed of the early days of short dramas in later generations.

But now that the year is almost over, and the extras have all been baptized by the halo of being teachers, they really managed to finish all the wrap-up work on the tenth day amidst the hectic pace.

At the celebration banquet on the last night, Wang Xiaozhou raised his glass to toast everyone's cooperation over the past few days, and the extras responded enthusiastically.

After the dinner ended, no one went to ask Wenye, who was in charge of the auditions, for his contact information. Everyone surrounded Wang Xiaozhou, saying that if he had any more projects in the future, he should think of them, and they would even be willing to act for free.

Huang Mao and Lao San were hiding in a corner drinking beer when they saw this scene and silently sighed.

"The eldest brother is always the eldest brother, even when filming a movie he can gather so many followers."

"Everyone's in this business to make money. What's the point of these guys performing for free? Honestly."

......

Finally, he stayed with Mao Xiaotong for one night. The next morning, he went to the landlord to get his deposit back. A group of people parted ways at the airport... Actually, Mao Xiaotong was at the airport to see Wang Xiaozhou and the others off.

"Then I wish you a Happy New Year in advance. See you after the New Year, top-tier actor."

After passing through security, Wang Xiaozhou smiled and waved to Mao Xiaotong.

Mao Xiaotong put her hand to her mouth, making a megaphone shape, and shouted, "Remember to message me when you arrive to let me know you're safe!"

"The same to you!"

Wang Xiaozhou waved goodbye to Wen Ye at the security checkpoint. After being away for almost half a month, he was finally going back to that black soil.

On the return flight, Huang Mao and his friends weren't as lively as they were on their first flight. Mao Xiaotong had bought them tickets from Xi'an Airlines, and the flight attendants... were definitely not as good as those from Hainan Airlines.

I gazed at the scenery outside the whole way. The moment the plane landed and I stepped out of the airport, the familiar smell of rust wafted into my nostrils from the cold wind, and I suddenly felt at ease.

As usual, his father picked them up from the airport. After arriving home, he drove his three childhood friends home one by one. Only when there were just the two of them left in the car did Wang Jianguo speak: "This time you won't cause any more trouble, right? Can you finally have a peaceful New Year at home?"

Wang Xiaozhou nodded: "The short film is finished. I can just stay home and edit it these days, and spend more time with you two."

"We don't need you to accompany us," Wang Jianguo said insincerely.

Wang Xiaozhou chuckled softly, "You got up so early again to buy me ribs, didn't you?"

Wang Jianguo was amused, but still insisted, "This time there are only noodles."

After spending some time at home with his mother and having a big pork rib meal, Wang Xiaozhou rushed out before the afternoon to buy a large computer appliance for his home. After returning home, Wang Xiaozhou began to hide in his room and edit short videos.

Working during the day and sending messages to Meng Ziyi and Mao Xiaotong at night, and exchanging wits with Song Shihui, he lived a happy life day by day.

On the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, Wang Xiaozhou was just one step away from completing the editing of his short film, but he couldn't continue working that day. With the New Year approaching, there were still some things to take care of.

On the first day, Wang Xiaozhou visited relatives on both sides of the river with his parents. On the second day, he invited Huang Mao and others, and the four brothers went to a small village by the river. Wang Xiaozhou wanted to visit the old man.

"Everything's expensive right before the New Year. This short distance, a taxi ride really costs fifty yuan?"

As soon as he got out of the car, the third brother complained that he was the most frugal of all the brothers.

This time, Wang Xiaozhou didn't trick the driver into swallowing a light bulb. With the Chinese New Year approaching, it's the unspoken rule for taxi drivers in the county not to use the meter when leaving town, unlike the driver who usually rips people off.

"Making money isn't easy for anyone. Now that we're able to earn some, as long as we don't get ripped off, let's not worry too much. Have you got your things?"

"This price is indeed not ripping us off, but the uniform pricing for taxi drivers in the county is outrageous, especially for such a short distance."

"Everything's packed. We've taken a lot... isn't that a bit much?"

Huang Mao raised the hand carrying the things up slightly, then looked left and right at what Lao San and Liu Weiguang were carrying, and asked with some doubt.

Wang Xiaozhou felt guilty but couldn't tell Huang Mao and the others directly, so he could only pretend to be generous and say, "Brothers, I've made money. After the short film is released, I'll have a lot of income. The old man's family is having a hard time, so it's no big deal to help him out."

"The martial arts world!"

"So righteous!"

"The benevolent are invincible!"

The group of naive brothers praised him in unison. They had followed their eldest brother since they were young, and what they admired most about him was his chivalrous spirit.

"Idiot."

Wang Xiaozhou snatched two boxes of milk from the blond-haired man who was carrying the most items, then turned and left.

The other silly brothers quickly followed, and the group laughed and joked all the way, having a real time.

Finding the dilapidated mud house with practiced ease, Wang Xiaozhou knocked on the door and entered. The old man cooking in the kitchen suddenly brightened up:

"Hey, Happy Chinese New Year, elementary school student!"

Wang Xiaozhou quickly put his hands together in a New Year's greeting: "Happy New Year in advance, Uncle! You look so energetic!"

The blond-haired guy and his friends entered the house one by one. The old man was getting happier and happier. The little girl in the house also jumped out. It had been a long time since there were guests at home, and she had no one to play with.

The third brother went up to hug the little girl, but she hesitated. Although she had played with the third brother last time the group came, she wanted to hug Wang Xiaozhou more.

Fine, I'll just give him a hug. This older brother looks... kind and righteous.

Hearing the commotion, the elderly couple inside came out. The old man patted Wang Xiaozhou on the shoulder and said, "You silly boy, we told you to come over often. Why did you bring anything?"

Wang Xiaozhou told Huang Mao and the others to put their things down and pushed the old man into the house: "Last time I came, you cooked. Today, I'll let you try my cooking."

Before entering the house, the old man glanced at the things that Wang Xiaozhou and the others had brought: a piece of pork, a bag of chicken feet, two buckets of oil, and some fried snacks that children like to eat—all things that ordinary families in Northeast China eat during the Spring Festival.

Silently keeping this sentiment in his heart, the old man went inside, put down a table, and invited Huang Mao and the others to play cards.

They don't pay, they just keep a record and we'll find the money later with the wine.

Wang Xiaozhou was busy in the kitchen when the little girl timidly ran out to help. Last time they came to the house, the little girl wanted to chat and play with this handsome older brother, but he was too busy chatting with his father to notice her.

"Could you help me stir the eggs? I'm having a hard time managing this all by myself."

Wang Xiaozhou was good at providing emotional support, so he chose the easiest job for the young girl.

The little girl nodded happily and clumsily used chopsticks to stir the egg mixture.

"What's your name?"

"Erni".

"Why are you called Erni? Do you have an older brother or sister?"

"Yes, I have an older brother who drowned in the river when he was three years old. I've seen his picture; he has my dad's double eyelids and my mom's dimples."

Wang Xiaozhou remained silent. There is actually a type of family in the world that is filled with suffering from the very beginning.