Huayu 1999: Starting with nothing but getting something for nothing

As the Spring Festival Gala began, Wang Weiqing remarked with emotion, "It feels like only now that it's the year 2000."

Yang Che, lying on the sofa, smiled slightly, then looked dazed again, as if it were all unreal.

He doesn't have many memorable moments from the 2000 Spring Festival Gala.

He had absolutely no recollection of Zhang Ziyi, who performed in the opening dance. He figured she should have gone to Berlin with Zhang Yimou after the Spring Festival Gala.

"My dear viewers, I've missed you all so much!"

Feng Gong and JJ Lin from mainland China sang, "Not bad, not bad, it tastes great, in American slang it's 'very good!'"

I don't really remember the twin sisters in the parade, but my mom kept praising them, which shows she really likes them.

He even said to Yang Che, "Son, could you get your mom and her sisters' autographs sometime in the future?"

Yang Yuanchao retorted, "They're not from the performing arts troupe, so it has nothing to do with your son."

Yang Che didn't want to disappoint his mother: "I'll try making a phone call."

The parents glanced at each other simultaneously: "Hmm?"

"It must be right now. After the Spring Festival Gala, they'll go back to their unit. Where am I supposed to find someone for you then?"

As Yang Che spoke, he dialed Wang Fei's number again.

It rang several times before it was answered.

"what?"

Yang Che said in a serious tone, "Teacher Wang, I need your help with something. My mom really likes the women in the military. Could you find someone to get their autographs...?"

Wang Fei was completely bewildered: "What the hell?"

"These two singing on the Spring Festival Gala right now, hurry up, they'll be gone as soon as they're done. By the way, my mom's name is Wang Weiqing, Wei as in 'protection,' and Qing as in 'a beautiful woman.'"

Wang Fei then realized what was happening and said with a hint of helplessness, "Couldn't you...couldn't you have found someone else?"

"Teacher Wang, please help me. My mom really likes them. I'll definitely try my best to repay you..."

"roll!!!"

Wang Fei hung up the phone immediately, feeling somewhat amused and exasperated. After thinking for a moment, he called Li Ming, since Li Ming had more influence than Jing Gangshan and was more reliable than La Ying.

Li Ming, who was resting backstage, took a long time to process Wang Fei's phone call. Was this Wang Fei?

"Did you remember that, Ms. Wang Weiqing...?"

Li Ming snapped out of his reverie: "I'll remember that. I'm curious about this king..."

"Don't ask, I'll treat you to dinner later. Hurry up."

"....."

Yang Che, seeing his parents' puzzled and curious expressions, explained, "Wang Fei, didn't I tell you? We're just friends."

"Then why do you call her 'teacher'?"

Yang Che spoke nonsense with a straight face: "A respectful title, since the accomplished are teachers. I learned to sing from her, so don't worry, she can definitely handle it."

At this moment, a row of male singers appeared on the TV. Yang Che looked at them and saw that, except for Lin Zhixuan, the others disappeared later.

Man Jiang, Man Wenjun, Huang Gexuan, Wang Yamin, Diao Han, Sun Xiaoyi

The song they sang together this time was also not very good.

The next skit was terrible, making Yang Che feel very embarrassed, but his father, Yang Yuanchao, was completely focused.

The skit is called "My Deskmate," and it stars Pan Zi, Gong Hanlin, and Wang Siyi, who plays Pan Jinlian.

Yang Che was afraid that his father would glance at him and then ask him for Wang Siyi's autographed photo... then he wouldn't be able to have a good New Year. Obviously, Yang Che was overthinking it.

He was drowsy watching the rest of the show, but his parents enjoyed it very much. However, they didn't like Pu Shu's "Birch Forest" because they thought the melody was sad and the singer didn't sing it well.

They like Lin Xinru and Cui Yongyuan's duet "Liuliu De Ta".

When Xie Biwang and Dong Jie performed the song and dance "Together for Life" in their wedding attire, Wang Weiqing glanced at her son several times, looking like she wanted to say something but couldn't. In the end, she didn't say anything, probably because she found it bothersome.

But Dong Jie is truly beautiful.

Uncle Benshan's "The Hourly Worker" is not considered one of the best among his many Spring Festival Gala sketches, and Yang Che has watched it countless times, but he still finds it hilarious.

The meme of "putting an elephant in a refrigerator" was still trending overseas 26 years ago...

"You think I won't recognize you just because you're wearing a vest?"

Wang Weiqing touched the corner of his eye and casually said, "From now on, people selling fake accounts will hate Benshan to death."

Yang Che was taken aback, then gave his mother a thumbs up.

"Mom, your business acumen is absolutely top-notch."

Wang Weiqing ignored his son's flattery, picked up an orange, and continued reading.

After Uncle Benshan's show ended, there wasn't much left to watch. At midnight, an elder's blessing was shown.

"Building on past achievements and forging ahead into the future; may the nation prosper and the people enjoy peace and prosperity, and may the century take off."

Just then, there was a knock on the door, and it was Uncle Zhang, the neighbor, and his two children.

"Let's set off the cannons."

Yang Che's father, Yang Yuanchao, was much more enthusiastic than Yang Che. If it weren't for giving his parents face, Yang Che wouldn't have bothered going downstairs. He even had to wear cotton-padded pants and a cotton-padded coat.

After going downstairs, the courtyard of the residential area was already in an uproar.

The sounds of firecrackers and fireworks, along with people's congratulations and laughter, filled the air.

Yang Che was handing out cigarettes everywhere.

"Brother Che, give me one."

Yang Che turned around and saw it was the Gao family's troublemaker from Unit 1: "You've got hair growing in your crotch?"

The guy patted his chest, his face full of pride: "It's grown."

Yang Che laughed and lit one for him. Just as he handed it over, his mother slapped his bottom.

The brat took off running, shouting as he went that it was unlucky for older kids to be born during the New Year.

The people gathered downstairs burst into laughter.

After returning home, Yang Che yawned and said, "Mom and Dad, let's go to Sanya for Chinese New Year next year. I'll buy a piece of land and build a villa."

The parents said something unrealistic like "I don't want to talk to my son."

Yang Che touched his chin but didn't say anything.

Of course, with so many social obligations, my parents would never go to another city.

The same thing happened in another timeline. Yang Che persuaded them to go to Sanya before the New Year. After staying for three or four days, they became depressed. Yang Che had no choice but to buy an extremely expensive plane ticket to send the elderly couple back to their hometown. When they went to the airport, the elderly couple were overjoyed.

Of course, Yang Che was also having a great time staying in Sanya alone...

Dadonghai is my hometown~

When did the practice of traveling during the Spring Festival become so popular?

For the next three days, Yang Che remained largely the same as before the Lunar New Year.

On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, the television, which was turned on early in the morning, was playing the preview for today's episode of "Journey to the West: The Sequel," while Yang Che was about to return to the capital.

His reason for arguing with his parents was that he was applying to the Beijing Film Academy, and his future graduate advisor wanted him to go there and help.

Yang Che lied with great confidence, after all, he had had enough of being a tool, and he couldn't even have a proper conversation with his college classmates after having a meal together.

"It's okay, I'll drive to Wangdu in 3 hours and then Li Xiangdong will take over."

The parents were not sad, just a little regretful.

After all, the couple is very much in love.